Ukraine’s Ilyich reduces coke consumption in pig iron production

Tuesday, 22 February 2011

The Ukrainian flat steel producer Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich), a part of the steel and rolled products division of the Ukrainian mining and steel producing group Metinvest, has said that in 2010 it reduced its average coke consumption per one metric ton of pig iron production by 3.5 percent year on year to 502 kg, with a further reduction to 490 kg coke/mt of pig iron in December.

Accordingly, such results are considered to be the best among the other steel producers which are not equipped with pulverized coal injection (PCI) facilities.

Since the beginning of the current year for each metric ton of pig iron produced, Ilyich has consumed 484 kg of coke, 82 cubic meters of natural gas and 40 cubic meters of oxygen. The plant's average daily production of pig iron amounts to 14,410 mt.

As SteelOrbis previously reported, from late February this year Ilyich plans to resume work on the construction of its PCI facility for blast furnaces, which is being supplied by China National Mineral Co. Ltd, in line with the contract concluded on May 18, 2006.

(sourced:steelorbis)
Tags: pig iron , raw mat , Ukraine , CIS , Ilyich , production , consumption , steelmaking , Met Coke

Metinvest targets annual steel output of 25 million mt in long term

Tuesday, 08 February 2011
Ukraine's largest mining and steel group Metinvest has increased its investments for 2011 by 2.4 times year on year to $1.18 billion in order to improve its steel production efficiency and to strengthen its vertical integration with the aim of processing in-house as much available raw materials as possible into steel, said Metinvest's CEO Igor Syry. He added that during the next five years Metinvest plans to invest around $6 billion for the stated purpose, targeting a long-term output goal of 25 million mt of steel per year, which will take it to around fifth place among the world's major steelmakers.
Metinvest plans to expand its steelmaking capacities both by mergers and acquisitions, and by pursuing organic growth. "We will also strengthen our footprint in our strategic markets - in Ukraine and the CIS, the EU, the Middle East and North Africa. Our presence will grow by means of product portfolio diversification, reduction of the share of semi-finished products down to 10 percent in favor of such products as hot and cold rolled coils, coated coils and heavy sections, as well as through clear customer segmentation and development of long-term mutually beneficial relationships with key accounts," Mr. Syry said.
As regards its technological strategy, Metinvest plans to introduce pulverized coal injection (PCI) technology. Its high-grade coking coal needs per annum will increase to 13 million mt, and its coke needs will rise to 8 million mt. "The share of high-quality coking coal in our blast furnace charge will need to increase, though, unfortunately, there is a lack of such coals in Ukraine. Additional volumes can be imported, and naturally, we will be sourcing them from United Coal (UCC), our own coal mining company in the USA. We have approved capacity expansion projects at the Affinity and Roaring Creek mines, and we are planning to increase supplies," Mr. Syry stated.
In addition, Metinvest plans the implementation of energy efficiency projects, the positive effect of which, according to preliminary estimations, will amount to around $1 billion per year.
Tags: hrc , crude steel , coking coal , crc , raw mat , semis , flats , Ukraine , CIS , steelmaking , production , investments , Metinvest(sourced:steel orbis)