13 Oct 2022 10:44

ArcelorMittal Krivoi Rog decommissioning obsolete coke batteries, only two left operating

MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - ArcelorMittal Krivoi Rog (AMKR), the largest rolled steel producer in Ukraine, has shut down its two oldest coke batteries and begun the process of decommissioning them.

Coke batteries Nos. 1 and 2 produced their last batch of coke on October 12, and AMKR is beginning the process of decommissioning them, despite the difficult time for the country and Ukrainian business, the company said in a press release.

Four of the plant's six coke batteries will be left, but only two will be operating, the modern No. 5 and No. 6 batteries, which were put into operation last week after a forced shutdown due to military operations.

The company said its management decided to completely shut down the old coke batteries in order to improve the environment in the region. The shutdown of the two batteries will cut pollution from coke chemical production by 37%.

This is a decisive step for the sake of cleaner air and updating production technology, AMKR CEO Mauro Longobardo said in the press release, remarking that the operation of the two batteries often caused concerns among the residents of Krivoi Rog and environmental protection organizations. The time has come to part with the first and second coke batteries, thanks to which Krivoi Rog and the whole region will feel a significant reduction of the industrial burden, he said.

The first and second batteries, with total capacity to produce 3,000 tonnes of bulk coke per day, operated for about 50 years. Construction of the fifth and sixth batteries was completed in 2018.

The decommissioning of the obsolete equipment will bring changes for the plant's workforce. About 120 employees worked at the coke batteries and the company will make every effort to give the overwhelming majority of them the opportunity to begin a new position in the plant's operations, HR director Yulia Zabolotnaya said, adding that decisions will be made on an individual basis.