OREANDA-NEWS. On July 17, 2008 Oskol electrometallurgical plant (OEMK, a subsidiary of Metalloinvest Holding) was awarded the first prize in the 7th contest "Metals and mining enterprise of high social responsibility" in the category "Environmental activity and resource saving technologies", reported the press-centre of Metalloinvest.

The annual contest is held by the Metals and Mining Industrialists Association of Russia and the Executive committee of the Russia’s metals and mining trade union.

OEMK applies DRI technology with the use of natural gas which enables to minimize environmental impact. The mill implements advanced technologies aimed at atmospheric air protection, water conservation, and waste control. Such technologies provide conservation of resources, raw materials and energy. According to official statistics environmental protection costs at OEMK are the highest in the Russian metallurgical industry.

OEMK is the leader among other metallurgical plants in implementation of environmental management system and large-scale environmental protection programs. In 2003 the environmental management system at the mill was certified according to the international standard ISO 14001:1996 and in 2006 it the got the environmental certificate of compliance with ISO 14001:2004.