EVRAZ Worldwide - facebook youtube Login Contacts Русский ABOUT PRODUCTS SUSTAINABILITY CORPORATE GOVERNANCE INVESTORS MEDIA OUR STAFF HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT HSE Strategy Health and Safety Environment Safety Standards SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Home > Sustainable development > Health, Safety and Environment > Environment Environment Air emissions The reduction of air emissions is one of EVRAZ’s main environmental objectives. The key air emissions are primarily comprised of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), dust and volatile organic compounds. The Company has made significant progress in air emission reduction since 2011. The present air emissions reduction strategy includes modernisation of gas treatment systems as well as implementation of modern technologies and withdrawal of obsolete equipment. In 2014, EVRAZ ZSMK introduced the Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) technology and completed installation of hydraulic valves at the coke chemical production equipment. EVRAZ DMZ modernised the gas treatment system of the converter shop mixer, and EVRAZ KGOK upgraded the aspiration systems for roasting and sintering machines. Nevertheless the key air emissions have increased by 5.1 thousand tonnes (or 4.2%) compared to 2013. The growth in the emissions was caused by higher sulphur content in coal and iron ore used at EVRAZ ZSMK’s power and sinter plants which resulted in SOx emissions growth and by an increase in dust emissions at EVRAZ ZSMK Heat & Power plant due to low efficiency of electrostatic precipitators. Because of these two factors the air emissions by EVRAZ ZSMK have increased by 7 thousand tonnes compared to 2013. Taking into account the management decision to re-base the targets by excluding data related to the disposed assets (EVRAZ VGOK, EVRAZ Vitkovice Steel, three mines of Evrazruda, the ZSMK Central Power Plant of ZSMK and EVRAZ NTMK’s Nizhnesaldinsky mill of), the key air emissions from operations have increased by 3.8% since 2011. Greenhouse gas emissions EVRAZ recognises the importance of abating climate change and supports the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. In fulfilment of the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013, EVRAZ undertook to assess full greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from facilities under its control. GHG emissions data was collected for 2014 and compared to the 2013 levels which were established as a baseline. Total 2014 GHG emissions decreased by 7% compared with the previous year. The decrease of coking coal consumption at EVRAZ ZSMK due to implementation of the pulverized coal technology in 2014, lower consumption of fuel coal at EVRAZ NTMK, and sale of some of the EVRAZ assets, that took place in 2013 and the beginning of 2014, have led to the decrease in CO2 emissions by 7%. Lower methane content in the coal mined and decrease in coal production at some of the mines have resulted in 13% CH4 emissions reduction in the coal segment. Water consumption and water discharge The objective of the Company is to use water resources efficiently and to prevent any negative impacts on water quality through environmental incidents. In 2014, almost 76% of EVRAZ total water intake was from surface sources, including rivers, lakes and reservoirs versus 80% in 2013. Total fresh water consumption in 2014 was 332 million cubic metres, 9.9% less than in 2013 (368 million cubic metres) and 26.5% less than in 2011. Taking into account the decision by the HSE Committee of the Board to re-base the target by excluding data related to the disposed assets, the fresh water consumption decreased by 17% versus the 2011 adjusted baseline. Water discharge decreased by 73.8 million cubic meters during 2012-2014. In 2014, EVRAZ sites significantly improved the water management performance. Yuzhkuzbassugol put into operation new water treatment facilities at Uskovskaya and Yerunakovskaya-VIII mines. The Alardinskaya mine completed installation of domestic waste water treatment resulting in more treated water used in production instead of fresh water. Water pumped from mines (mine dewatering process) is not included in the fresh water consumption target although pumped water is used in the production process. In 2014, 44.7 million cubic meters of mine water were pumped out and used compared to 37 million cubic meters in 2013. EVRAZ ZSMK has commissioned new water rotation cycles in the gas treatment installation at the ingot shop, a water cooling system of the rail and beam mill, reconstructed the pump station and replaced gravity conduits of “dirty” and “clean” cycles. These measures along with operational improvements allowed to decrease water consumption at EVRAZ ZSMK by 14 million cubic meters. The Bagliykoks coke plant in Ukraine has commissioned a new chemical water treatment plant. Waste management Mining and steelmaking operations produce significant amounts of waste including waste rock, spent ore and tailings (waste from processing ore and concentrates). EVRAZ aims to reduce the amount of waste it produces, to reuse natural resources where possible and to dispose of waste in a manner that minimises the environmental impact whilst maximising operational and financial efficiency. In line with the Company’s strategy to reduce waste storage volumes and enhance waste disposal, EVRAZ sites regularly reviews opportunities for waste recycling and reuse. For example, in 2014 EVRAZ ZSMK has started operation of the new installation for converter slag processing. The main goal is 100% recycling of converter slag. This will allow to extract 20 - 25% of metal from the slag and the remainder after the crushing and screening becomes by-production (crushed stone). In 2014, EVRAZ steel mills generated 9 million tonnes of metallurgical waste (slag, sludge, scale) while 10.8 million tonnes were recycled and reused. In total, in 2014, EVRAZ recycled or reused 110% of non-mining waste and by-products compared to 106% in 2013. EVRAZ’s strategy of dealing with non-hazardous mining wastes, such as depleted rock, tailings and overburden is to use them where possible for land rehabilitation and the construction of dams or roads. In 2014, 11% or 15.4 million tonnes of such waste material were reused compared to 14% or 21 million tonnes in 2013. All non-recyclable waste is stored in facilities which are designed to prevent any harmful substances contained in the waste escaping into the environment. © 2015 EVRAZ plc. Site created by Notamedia, 2013