The «Zaporizhstal» Steel Works, as part of Metinvest's technological strategy focused on ecological upgrading, has begun preparations for the construction of an oxygen-converter plant at the Markusova gulch site in Zaporozhye, which will replace the former dumping site.
The amount of investments into the oxygen-converter plant project is over 1.5 billion dollars. The construction of the converter plant will enable the Steel Works to completely abandon the obsolete open-hearth furnace production and significantly reduce the industrial load on the environment, with an expected reduction of air emissions by 25% of the total emissions from the Steel Works.
“We start realizing the largest ecological project for the upgrading of the 'Zaporizhstal' Steel Works,” stated Rostislav Shurma, the CEO of "Zaporizhstal" Steel Works. “The construction of the oxygen-converter plant represents a transition to new, ecologically safe and effective production methods, alongside investments exceeding 1.5 billion dollars. This will create new job opportunities and modern industrial infrastructure, all situated within a sanitary-protective zone featuring green plantings, transforming the infamous slag dumps. These changes are beneficial not only for the Steel Works and its employees but also for all the residents of the region.”
“Metinvest”, is an international vertically integrated mining and metallurgical group that has invested over 250 million dollars into ecological upgrades at "Zaporizhstal" Steel Works since August 2012. To this end, a new gas purification system for sintering machine №1 has been installed and is now operational. Currently, the connection of the new gas purification system for sintering machine №2 is underway. Additionally, the construction of the new pickling line CPL-4 in Cold Rolling Shop №1 has been completed, stopping the discharge of process waters into the Dnieper River and reducing sulphuric acid emissions into the atmosphere by 83%. The commissioning works on the reconstructed Blast Furnace №4, which now includes the latest aspiration systems for the casting yard and the stock house, are nearing completion.