OREANDA-NEWS. October 29, 2012. Metinvest, the international vertically integrated steel and mining group of companies, today announced its intention to shut down coke production at its Azovstal steel mill by decommissioning of two remaining outdated coke batteries. Following the shutdown, Metinvest will optimize its coke supply chain and effectively reduce environmental emissions in the city of Mariupol (Ukraine).

Two Azovstal’s coke batteries №6 and №7, which were put into operation in 1960’s, will be decommissioned by the end of October 2012. The decommissioning was enabled by successful completion of hot testing of the pulverized coal injection (PCI) unit at nearby Metinvest’s Ilyich Steel mill in October. The PCI unit, designed to reduce coke consumption at Iliych Steel to 500kg per tonne of hot iron, is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2012. Following the PCI unit launch, Ilyich Steel will decrease its monthly coke consumption by approximately 13,000 tonnes. Extra coke supplies from Metinvest’s Avdiivka Coke Plant will be re-directed to Azovstal, compensating for closure of the coke batteries №6 and №7. The decommissioning wil not affect either amount or quality of Azovstal’s steel products.

The employees from decommissioned facilities will join vacant positions at Azovstal and other Metinvest’s mills.

In June 2012, Azovstal’s coke battery #№5 was put out of work and decommissioned. The removal of obsolete coking facilities will result in a significant improvement of the environmental situation in Mariupol and nearby cities.

Optimization of Azovstal’s production facilities is being carried out within the framework of Metinvest’s Technological Strategy, and runs ahead of a timeline of the “Programme of Environment Enhancement and Protection in Mariupol for 2012-2020” adopted by Mariupol city authorities in September 2012. According to the Programme, the decommissioning of the Azovstal’s coke batteries №6 and №7 was initially scheduled for 2013-2014. By earlier-than-planned shutdown of its old-fashioned equipment, Metinvest reaffirms its status as one of the most responsible corporate citizens in Ukraine.