This year, Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) is planning to direct over 1.6bn RUR on the environmental protection purposes.

Among the most significant air protection initiatives are the ongoing reconstruction of the sulphur-collecting units in the sintering plant section, the completion of the reconstruction process involving the aspiration system of the areas located under the bunkers, with the installation of an electric filter at Blast Furnace 10, the completion of the aspiration systems at the metallurgical slime processing units, and the construction of air-protecting facilities within the cold roll Mill 200) project. All in all, the company expects to carry out eighteen different projects aimed at reducing the amount of atmospheric pollutants it dumps. Over 400m RUR will be spent on this.

Among the most large-scale water resources protection and economical use projects are the construction of the recirculation water supply system at cold roll Mill 2000 (rolling mill 11) and the construction of such systems at rolling mill 4, where hot-roll Mill 2500 is currently being reconstructed. All in all, twelve water-protection projects have been provided for this year, with over 1.2bn RUR to be directed for the purpose.

The key element of MMK general management system designed to reduce the enterprise’s harmful environmental impact is the environmental management system (EMS). The program was launched in 2004 and has been working very successfully since. The system has invariably proved its compliance with the international standard ISO 14001. The system’s key components are tested by a board of experts on a regular basis, the experts representing and individual body of TUV NORD CERT GmbH, one of the most influential international bodies in the field of environmental certification,’ MMK reports.