NLMK Group increases the stability of power generation at the Lipetsk site

NLMK Group, one of the most efficient metallurgical companies in Russia and in the world, has begun replacing turbine generator No. 5 at the TPP at the Lipetsk site, which is NMLK's main production site. Its high quality steel products are used in many industries, from construction and mechanical engineering to large diameter pipes and power equipment.

Installing the latest equipment to replace existing legacy hardware will improve reliability and increase generator availability by 10 percent to 60 MW. The total installed capacity of NLMK's own generation reaches 502 MW, providing energy self-sufficiency in the amount of 54 percent of consumption.

An agreement on the supply of the main technological equipment was concluded with the Ural Turbine Works. In 2016, it is planned to carry out the entire complex of construction and installation works, while the launch is scheduled for 2017. The project will cost 1.9 billion rubles, and its payback period is 1.4 years.

Alexander Starchenko, Vice President for Energy at NLMK, said: “This new project is another step towards improving the efficiency of NLMK's energy complex. It will help ensure a reliable supply of energy to metallurgical plants and maximize the use of the by-product, blast furnace gas, as fuel. ”

The reduction in power generation during the project will be offset by reallocating the capacity of other generating units, including two new gas recovery turbines. The first such turbine at NLMK was launched in June 2015, and the launch of the second is scheduled for 2016.

At the Lipetsk site, electricity is generated by eleven generating units with a capacity of 332 MW and two combined heat and power plants with a potential of 150 MW. One 20 MW gas recovery turbine is also used for this purpose. Natural gas is used as fuel, as well as a by-product of a blast furnace and coke production.