West-Siberian Metallurgical Industrial Complex (part of Evraz Group) won in Russia’s Top 100 Enterprises contest in the Environment and Environmental Management category. The company’s Managing Director Rashid Nugumanov was awarded with the honorary decoration of Conservationist of the Year 2006, reports the spokesperson for Evraz Group.

Over 400 enterprises based in 50 Russian regions applied for the competition, and 160 of them made it to the final tour; then, the ‘golden hundred’ was selected based on how successful the companies were in their conservational activity: whether they managed to reduce their atmospheric emissions and the amount of pollutants dumped in the water, whether they were working on waste recycling, and how much they were investing in the environmental protection. The awarding ceremony took place in Saint Petersburg during the All-Russian Environment, Production and Prospects of Economic Environmental Protection Development conference. The event was organized by the Soviet of the Federation Committee for Science, Culture, Education, Healthcare, and the Environment.

This award symbolizes the recognition of all the efforts the enterprise has been making in the field of environmental protection. The company received its ISO 14001:2004 certificate of compliance with the international environmental management standards in 2004. Its environmental management and conservational policies allow for a multifaceted handling of environmental issues and for including their innovations in the company’s everyday routines and business strategies. Attempts are made to involve every single employee in the process and reduce the hazardous effects of production on people’s lives and health.

West-Siberian Metallurgical Industrial Complex is currently implementing a long-term conservation program valid up to 2012; it provides for 2.3 billion RUR worth of investments. The company is now operating at its record-setting 1989 level, whereas the amount of harmful emissions nearly halved, with 88 million cubic meters of water used for manufacturing purposes saved every year. What is more, only 1% (compared to 8% in 1989) of this water is taken from the local rivers; the rest is supplied through re-used water and close production cycles.

The enterprise also pays great attention to waste recycling. A lot of waste us used as raw or additional material, as well as for building and improvement of premises. Last year, the business received the National Environmental Prize in the Eco-Efficiency category.