The investment, which was first implemented in 2012, aimed to reduce emissions from these units and decrease the impact on the surrounding environment.
At the blast furnace department, the installation of the cast house de-dusting system is on track. The new system will ensure complete de-dusting of the solid particles during the tapping of hot metal in the cast house of the blast furnace, which will significantly reduce emissions and improve working conditions in the unit. In May 2013 the delivery of equipment for this project was completed. The works and the assembly of the equipment outside the blast furnace building have progressed significantly, while the works on the blast furnace cast house started in June. Cold tests are expected to start this month.
Two large projects are also under way in the sinter plant. The first is the replacement of the existing water de-dusting systems with new bag filters, used in the reloading and transportation of sinter and lime. All five filters have been recently placed in trial run mode, with satisfactory results. The other project currently being implemented in this department is the replacement of all four sections in the sinter machine no 4 precipitator, to reduce emissions. The assembly of all four sections has been completed and adjustments and testing of the electro filters is under way.
“The projects are being implemented in order to fulfil two important goals: to ensure environmental protection, and to improve the working conditions of our [employees] and our contractors' employees,” said MV Kulkarni, CEO of ArcelorMittal Zenica. “Our objective for the entire investment programme is to bring emissions from ArcelorMittal Zenica within all the relevant Bosnia and Herzegovina laws and standards within a reasonable period of time, and to continue our progress beyond that. Everybody at ArcelorMittal Zenica is working very hard to achieve this goal, and I believe that residents of this town recognise this.”
