OREANDA-NEWS. May 30, 2011. Novolipetsk has successfully completed a recertification audit of its Environmental Management System. The recertification confirms the Company’s compliance with requirements specified under international standard ISO 14001:2004. 

The audit was undertaken by TЬV Rheinland Cert GmbH (Germany) and assessed operations at NLMK’s business units and technical services, in addition to the Company’s current environmental management system documentation.   As a result, NLMK’s environmental practices, implemented projects and projects progressing in line with Best Available Technology (BAT) requirements received a positive evaluation.

The certification agency made the decision to extend the validity of the universally recognized environmental standard for NLMK for the next three years. 

For reference:
NLMK received its first certificate of compliance with international environmental standards in 2002. Annual audits confirmed the operational efficiency of all the elements of the Environmental Management System. In 2010 the main site in Lipetsk reduced its atmospheric emissions by 1 400 tonnes, whereas its steel output grew by 781 000 tonnes (up to 9 288 000 tonnes). River water consumption was decreased by 11.1 million m3, and there was no effluent discharge into the Voronezh river. The quantity of previously accumulated solid process wastes went down by 571 000 tonnes compared to 2009. Environmental investments in 2010 amounted to RUR4,137 million.
Since the commencement of NLMK’s Technical Upgrade Programme in 2000, total investments in environmental protection exceeded RUR17 billion. As a result, atmospheric emissions were reduced by 22%. In 2004 NLMK stopped process waste accumulation at the production site and started to process previously accumulated wastes, reducing the overall quantity by over 1 million tonnes. Since 2005 Lipetsk has been excluded from the list of Russian cities with high air pollution levels in accordance with Roshydromet’s monitoring data. In 2009 the Company fully stopped the discharge of effluents into the Voronezh river.