OREANDA-NEWS. December 27, 2012. Metinvest Group, the international vertically integrated steel and mining group, made a decision regarding sinter plants at Azovstal and Ilyich Steel Plant and submitted it to Mariupol City Council’s task group for consideration.

As part of its open dialogue with the public to find environmental solutions, Metinvest has brought up for discussion the following decisions backed by the Group's shareholders:

1. To suspend the sinter plant at Azovstal and move sinter production to Ilyich Steel Plant

2. To start upgrading the sinter plant at Ilyich Steel Plant to meet the highest environmental standards

3. To put Azovstal's sinter plant back in operation only after consultations with Mariupol citizens and only in case of technological emergency.

Annual expenses caused by the move of sinter production from Azovstal to Ilyich Steel Plant will amount to USD 59 milllion.

Upgrade of the sinter plant at Ilyich Steel Plant is estimated at more than USD 300 million and will take about six to eight years, experts say.

"We decided to suspend Azovstal's sinter plant and start upgrading the sinter production facility at Ilyich Steel Plant, because we care about the interests of Mariupol citizens in the first place. The decisions were agreed and approved by our shareholders as the best from the standpoint of the public. This positive step is a part of a long-term investment programme realised at Metinvest's steel plants in Mariupol to improve the environment in the city," noted CEO of Metinvest Igor Syry.