OREANDA-NEWS. July 30, 2010. Evraz Group (LSE: EVR) ("Evraz" or the "Company") started implementation of Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) technology in the production of pig iron at its Russian steel mills Zapsib and NTMK. This will allow Evraz to use steam coal as fuel for blast furnaces by the end of 2012.

Pulverised coal injection will allow the Company to discontinue using natural gas in blast furnaces and to save annually up to 650 million cubic metres of natural gas at NTMK and up to 600 million cubic metres at Zapsib. Coke consumption will decrease by more than 20%. It will also reduce the Company’s environmental impact.

Under the project, complexes for pulverised coal preparation equipped with modern treatment and dust aspiration facilities will be built at the steel mills. At present preparatory works for future construction are being carried out at the blast furnace shops.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately USD 300 million.