Metalloinvest upgrades OEMK metallization unit

Russia's Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant (OEMK), part of Metalloinvest, has completed an upgrade of Metallization Unit No. 4, increasing its productivity by nearly 30pct. The project involved investments of approximately RUB 8 bln (USD 99 mln)

The refurbishment will increase metallized pellet production by 180,000 tons per year, allowing OEMK to reduce scrap use in electric arc furnace charges and lower steel production costs.

The main work was completed in 60 days, eight days ahead of schedule. The upgrade involved the reconstruction of the shaft furnace, reformer, recuperator, smoke exhauster, and fuel and blast furnace gas systems, alongside the installation of 1,500 tons of process equipment and 900 tons of metal structures.

OEMK is Russia's only full-cycle steel plant using direct reduction iron technology followed by electric arc furnace steelmaking. It produces high-quality steel, including special grades for the automotive, mechanical engineering and other industries.

Metalloinvest is a major global metals and mining company and the largest iron ore producer in Russia and the CIS. The vertically integrated group operates iron ore mining, pelletizing, HBI/DRI and steelmaking facilities, with annual production of about 36 mln tons of iron ore, 23 mln tons of pellets, 7.8 mln tons of HBI/DRI and 3.5 mln tons of crude steel.