Over 90% of NLMK blast furnace facilities will run PCI

NLMK obtained the necessary construction permit in July this year, and is now preparing for construction and assemble works at the complex that will cover the largest and the most productive blast furnaces of the plant; namely blast furnace #6, which has a capacity of 3.1 million tonnes per annum; and blast furnace #7 with a capacity of 4.3 million tonnes per annum.

Project capex will exceed 6.5 billion rubles; with start-up scheduled for the second half of 2017.

Sergey Filatov, Novolipetsk Managing Director, said: “Our ongoing project to implement PCI technology is an important element in our overall Strategy 2017 program to boost operational efficiency and cut specific costs. The new complex will enable a 20-30% reduction in the consumption of expensive coke; and more than 50% reduction in the consumption of natural gas. Over 90% of the plant’s blast furnace capacities will be equipped with the resource-saving PCI technology by the end of 2017.”

NLMK Group began implementing advanced PCI technology back in 2013. The PCI system at Blast Furnace #5 (3 million tonnes of pig iron per year) went live in August 2013; while the PCI system at Blast Furnace #4 (2 million tonnes of pig iron per year) went live in May 2014.

Resource-saving PCI technology involves co-injecting natural gas and fine coal particles into the blast furnace. Replacing expensive raw materials with a cheaper alternatives, such as switching coking coal for steam coal, reduces the cost of producing pig iron.