The Ostrava mill of LIBERTY pushed dust emissions to 284 tons which is the lowest level ever and compared to the previous year it represents a 12 % drop. It is the lowest amount in the 70-year long history of the mill.  This amount is less than 15 % emissions compared to the situation at the time of privatization of the mill in 2003 and less than 1 % in comparison with the 1980s.

„We are below 300 tons of dust emissions per year for the very first time. The current emissions are two thirds lower the values prescribed by the EU legislation. Besides the dust control investment up to now the decrease is partly achieved owing to production reduction caused by the drop in demand when we had to idle one blast furnace for four months and produced 7 % less steel than during the previous year,“ said Petr Baranek, director for the environment at LIBERTY Ostrava.

Over the last 10 years the mill has made significant environmental investments. A total of 40 bag filters operate at LIBERTY Ostrava, capturing even the finest dust particles with more than 99 % efficiency;  They are the most efficient technology for dust capturing in steelmaking.

„Thanks to the environmental investments up to now, the steel sector is not among the main air polluters any longer. Still, through its transformation planned for the following years, the mill will further reduce its environmental footprint.  For example, the hybrid steelmaking technology, which will replace LIBERTY Ostrava´s existing tandem furnaces by 2023, will reduce dust emissions from steelmaking by another 60 %,“ adds Petr Baranek.

The company has invested in greening measures over the long run. Since the privatisation in 2003 the mill has made environmental investments worth of CZK 6.1 billion from its own funds and another 2 billion came from the EU subsidies for projects going beyond legal requirements. Annually, LIBERTY Ostrava spends c. CZK 200 million on the operation and maintenance of emission control technologies alone.

Further information:

LIBERTY Ostrava is an integrated steel business with an annual production capacity of approximately 3.6 million tonnes per annum serving primarily construction, machinery and oil & gas industries. The company is a domestic leader in the manufacture of road barriers and tubes. In addition to the Czech market, it supplies its products to more than 40 countries around the world. Together with its subsidiaries in Ostrava, the company has 6,000 employees. The company manufactures its products with a minimum possible environmental footprint. The mill is part of LIBERTY Steel Group.

LIBERTY Steel Group is part of GFG Alliance, a collection of global businesses and investments owned by Sanjeev Gupta and his family. The Alliance is structured into three core industrial pillars: LIBERTY Steel Group, ALVANCE Aluminium Group and SIMEC Energy Group, independent of each other yet united through shared values and a purpose to create a sustainable future for industry and society. GFG Alliance employs c.35,000 people, across 30 countries and has revenues of >USD $20bn.

libertysteelgroup.com/cz/
www.libertysteelgroup.com
www.gfgalliance.com