OREANDA-NEWS. Metinvest Group plans to allocate UAH 3 billion for its environmental projects in 2014. Large environmental projects of the Company were presented by Vladislav Belous, Head of Metinvest Group's Environment Protection Department, at the International environmental forum “Environment for Ukraine”, which took place on 23-25 April in Kiev.

In particular, the Group continues to implement the environment protection and enhancement project in Mariupol that is scheduled until 2020. MMKI's and Azovstal's projects make over 70% of measures included to this program. The program implementation drives reducing emissions of both plants by more than 50% into the air and by 40% into the water.

The most essential project of Metinvest includes the reconstruction of gas purification facilities at MMKI's sinter plant, which results in emission reduction by 73 thousand tons per year. This is the most expensive investment project during the independence of Ukraine, with the estimated value of USD 220 million.

Besides, the major overhaul of the blast furnace #4 and reconstruction of the casthouse's dedusting system at Azovstal are scheduled for this year. This allows to reduce the dust emissions 340 tons per year. In such a way, the object will fully meet the European environmental standards: after the dedusting the dust content amounts to less than 30 mg/m3, while the Ukrainian standard is 50 mg/m3.

The program in 2012 included decommissioning of the equipment at Azovstal's sinter plant and three coking batteries. 2013 observed assembly and completed start-up operations on nitrogen suppression of fugitive emissions from BF #1-5 casthouses at MMKI. Metinvest's environmental investment to both plants in Mariupol amounted to about USD 70 million in 2012-2013.

Vladislav Belous, Head of Metinvest Group's Environment Protection Department:

“We continue developing our enterprises and cooperating with the city thanks to having a joint program and its consistent implementation. An 'open door' policy enables us to be in touch with all stakeholders, because each of us has both the rights for a healthy environment and obligations on its conservation.”

During the International Environmental Forum the participants discussed the following topics: environmental safety, 'green' power engineering, handling industrial wastes, state management in the environment protection segment, and provision of the energy independence of Ukraine.

Metinvest Group presented an exposition with its newest environmental programs at the 7th international exhibition “Environment 2014”, which took place as part of the forum. The Company's stand was granted a diploma “Achievements in environmental safety segment of a large industrial enterprise”.

The forum was organized by the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine and Ukrainian Center for International Exhibitions, Conferences and Forums. This year, the event was supported by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.