NLMK continues to implement pulverized coal injection technology

NLMK Group, a leading Russian steel producer with high operational efficiency, is implementing a project to build a second pulverized coal injection complex at the Lipetsk site. The implementation of the project will ensure the introduction of modern resource-saving technology at more than 90 percent of the company's blast furnaces.

In July 2015, the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant received a building permit, and now preparations have begun for the stage of construction and installation work at the complex, which will cover the largest and most productive blast furnaces of the plant: No. 6 with an annual capacity of 3.1 million tons and “ Rossiyanka "with an annual capacity of 4.3 million tons per year.

The volume of investments in the project will reach over 6.5 billion rubles. The commissioning of the facility is scheduled for the second half of 2017. The supplier of technology, engineering support and main equipment is PAUL WURTH (Luxembourg), and Lipetsk Gipromez is the general designer.

“The continuation of the project on the introduction of pulverized coal injection technology is one of the important elements of the overall program to improve production efficiency and reduce unit costs within the framework of the“ Strategy 2017 ”. The new complex will reduce the consumption of expensive coke by 20-30 percent and reduce the consumption of natural gas by more than 50 percent. By the end of 2017, more than 90 percent of the plant's blast furnace capacity will be switched to the use of resource-saving pulverized coal technology, ”said NLMK Managing Director Sergei Filatov.

NLMK Group started implementing modern fuel injection technology in 2013. In August 2013, the first fuel injection unit was put into operation at blast furnace No. 5, with a capacity of 3 million tons of pig iron per year, and the second, in May 2014, at blast furnace No. 4, with a capacity of 2 million tons of pig iron per year.
Resource-saving injection technology provides for the combined supply of natural gas and coal dust to the blast furnace. Replacing expensive coking coal with cheaper coal for power generation will reduce the cost of pig iron production.