OREANDA-NEWS. NLMK Group, Russia's leading manufacturer of high value added steel products, has concluded a contract with Siemens VAI for undertaking the main works as part of a large-scale project of upgrading both gas exhaust equipment and emission collection and cleaning systems at the Novolipetsk BOF operations.

Under the terms of the contract Siemens VAI will be responsible for engineering works and for the supply of the technological hardware required for the construction of a secondary emissions collection and cleaning system, as well as for the replacement of the gas exhaust ducts of two BOFs that have a joint capacity of 5.23 million tonnes per year. Siemen VAI will also supervise equipment assembly and start-up.

The new solutions will provide a 12% increase in the productivity of the Novolipetsk BOF Shop and reduce its air emissions by more than 50%. They also provide the possibility of generating energy from BOF gases.

Construction and assembly activities related to the project are planned to begin in June 2016. The project is scheduled for completion in 2019.

Konstantin Lagutin, NLMK Group Vice president for Investment Projects, said:

"NLMK is implementing this large-scale project as part of its Strategy 2017 and its Environmental Programme 2020, aimed at enhancing production efficiency, occupational health and safety, and at radically reducing the environmental footprint of operations. Replacing the existing facilities with modern and automated technological systems will really boost the reliability and environmental friendliness of NLMK's BOF operations."

NLMK Group has implemented a number of joint hi-tech projects with Siemens VAI to date. These include the reconstruction of gas exhaust ducts at the first BOF shop; the reconstruction of three Continuous Casting Machines and the complex of BOF #1 in the second BOF shop; and the construction of 4 ladle furnaces. Siemens VAI is also involved in the construction of the Pelletizing Plant at Stoilensky.