OREANDA-NEWS. In September, PJSC Azovstal Iron & Steel Works put into operation BF gas pipeline “BF-TTP”, the company's press service reported. This unit is of strategic importance for Works in two key directions: with regard to energy saving and environmental protection.BF gas pipeline “BF-TTP” is intended for BF gas transfer to TTP boilers. BF gas is an optimal substitution of natural gas.

Commissioning of this unit will allow Works to increase BF gas consumption by TTP boilers by 60.0 thou. cu m/hour and more – up to 395 thou. cu m/hour (before, gas pipeline commissioning TTP boiler units consumed 315 thou. cu m/hour on average). 1 cu m of natural gas is approximately 9.4 cu m of BF gas, therefore natural gas consumption will decrease up to 6.0 -11 thou. cu m/hour on average at Works, that allows to save about 19.440 mln. cu m of natural gas for half a year.

The second stage planned within the framework of this project lis in: commissioning of boiler unit of TTP station No 5 after its reconstruction. After its commissioning BF gas consumption at Works will increase by 100 – 120 thou. cu m/hour – up to 550–575 thou. cu m/hour. However, natural resource consumption will decrease up to 14.0 – 12.0 thou. cu m/hour or by 105,12 mln. cu m/year on average. Due to this unit commissioning Works will substantially improve economic indicators, it also will bring global ecological effect. The amount of CO emissions into atmosphere will substantially decrease as a result of growth of BF gas consumption by TTP boilers up to 100-120 thou. cu m/hour.

9 mln UAH was invested for BF gas pipeline construction. Annual savings from pipeline “BF-TTP” operation will make average 50 mln UAH with regard to the present cost of natural gas (1000 cu m – 956.23 UAH). Thus, payback time of the first project stage will not exceed a three months period. The project was implemented by Works' specialists in the frameworks of approved total production optimization program.

“Work in energy saving field has a strategic importance for us," noted Dmitry Livshits, Director General of PJSC Azovstal Iron & Steel Works. Well-directed projects implementation in energy saving field is a profitability and competitiveness increase of the company. 19 projects directed to the energy saving were implemented since 2004 – 2006 within the frameworks of "TOP at Works". Their implementation allows subdivisions to decrease electric power consumption by 16 million kilowatt-hour per year and natural gas - by 44.5 million cubic meters annually.