OREANDA-NEWS. October 26, 2012. NLMK is the first leading Russian steel company to successfully complete all energy management certification procedures in accordance with the new international standard ISO 50001:2011 “Energy Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use”.

During a preparation stage, a group of auditors from TUV SUD, the German certifying agency, verified all the elements of the standard at Novolipetsk (NLMK’s main production site in Lipetsk). TUV SUD noted the high level of organisation and efficiency of the Company’s existing Energy Management System and came to the decision to issue a certificate of compliance with international requirements.

The certification is further recognition by the international community of NLMK’s efforts to introduce best available techniques (BAT) aimed at optimising energy consumption and enhancing the sustainable use of energy resources to reduce the Company’s environmental footprint. 

By implementing a number of technical upgrades at Novolipetsk, the Company reduced the specific energy intensity (a key performance indicator for energy use) of steel production from 6.53 Gcal/t in 2007 to 6.1 Gcal/t in 2011. The Company achieved a further reduction of energy intensity to the current level of 5.75 Gcal/t by using higher volumes of by-product gases from metallurgical processes, as well as by undertaking a number of steps to cut energy costs. 

NLMK Group’s energy efficiency improvement programme that runs until 2020 includes new investment projects aimed at increasing the efficiency of waste energy utilisation, optimisation of technological processes and equipment upgrades. As a result, the Company’s energy intensity will reduce to 5.6 Gcal/t, equalling the BAT indicator for steel companies with a similar technological cycle.