Russian steelmaker Severstal has announced that it has signed contracts with Luxembourg-based plantmaker Paul Wurth and Netherlands-based engineering company Danieli Corus, a subsidiary of Italian Danieli Group, for the modernization of blast furnace (BF) No. 5 at its metallurgical plant in Cherepovets. The investment for the modernization project totals approximately RUB 30 billion ($517.25 million). The aim of the project is to extend the lifespan of the furnace, which has been operating for over 14 years.
Accordingly, Paul Wurth will supply a new bell-less top charging system, a slag granulation plant and a gas purification system for the blast furnace, while Danieli Corus will supply a new cooling system for the furnace.
Severstal stated that the plan is to build the auxiliary facilities at the complex from 2018 to 2019. The main technological equipment and the equipment for the automated control system will be installed in 2020.
According to the company’s statement, the blast furnace No. 5 is one of the world’s largest furnaces by volume. The design capacity of the furnace is more than four million mt per year. The unit provides about 50 percent of the cast iron for Cherepovets Steel Mill (CherMK).