OREANDA-NEWS. MMKI commenced construction of a two-strand concaster (CCM) with capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of premium segment slab per year. Metinvest Group will invest $150 million into the project. On 17 October, Austrian Primetals Technologies, primary supplier of equipment and technology for the new CCM visited the construction site.

General Director of MMKI, Yuriy Zinchenko and Vice President of Primetals Technologies for Sales and Marketing in Ukraine, Robert Reisetbauer, placed a time capsule into the foundation of CCM No. 4. Austrian partners will start deliveries of the metallurgical equipment in March 2017.

The project also includes modernization of Basic Oxygen Furnace production process and construction of secondary metallurgy treatment facilities. A new twin Ladle Furnace and alloy feed system supplied by Primetals Technologies make it possible to produce steel grades with ultra-low and ultra-high carbon level. State-of-the-art process control system will allow better coordination of steel making and casting.

The process of buildings dismantling, relocation of utility, communication and fire fighting lines is currently in progress, and preliminary foundation works have commenced. In 2017, steel structures and cranes will be installed, foundations of the CCM and the Ladle Furnace will be ready, as well as substation building construction will be completed. The commissioning of the facility is planned for the end of 2018. MMKI personnel that will work at the CCM will attend a training in Austria.

The project's technical solutions correspond to the best international practices, including the environmental aspects. Gas cleaning from Primetals Technologies will ensure dust content in purified gas under 12 mg/cubic meter, while the Ukrainian state requirement is under 50 mg/cubic meter, and European norm is under 30 mg/cubic meter.