Ostrava May 25, 2020 – LIBERTY Ostrava has launched green technology worth almost CZK 16 million aimed at reducing fugitive emissions¹ at its medium rolling mill. Two new fabric filters destined for dust control of the straighteners² will capture another 11 tonnes of dust per year. As the filters are beyond the company’s obligation, a subsidy of c. half of the project costs was granted by the European funds through the 136th appeal of the Ministry of Environment within The Operational Programme Environment. Nowadays the plant operates about forty fabric filters, which capture even the finest dust particles with more than 99% efficiency.

“The construction lasted five months and took place during the continuous operation of the rolling mill. The final phase of the installation was affected by the coronavirus crisis when the free movement of workers around the steelworks and the entire Czech Republic was restricted. Nevertheless, we managed to successfully complete the project according to the plan,” says Petr Kraina from the investment department at LIBERTY Ostrava, who was in charge of the project’s implementation.

The dedusting facility has already been tested in operation, with the efficiency of dust particles collection measured by an authorized company. “Measurements have shown that the average concentration of particulate matter at the outlet of the filter is more than 95% lower than the stipulated limits,” added Kraina. The material captured by the filters contains mainly iron and therefore will be collected and reused as steelmaking charge.

The steelworks operate forty fabric filters, which are the most efficient technology for capturing dust emissions in metallurgical plants. Fourteen of them are focused on eliminating fugitive emissions and capture hundreds of tonnes of these “low” dust emissions annually. The operation and maintenance of the filtering facilities cost about 200 million crowns a year. This is in addition to the CZK 6.1 billion that the steelworks have spent on green projects and CZK 2 billion used in subsidies since the privatization in 2003.

“Thanks to its current greening investments, metallurgy no longer plays a significant role in air pollution locally. However, the Ostrava steelworks continues to prepare additional projects to eliminate fugitive emissions beyond its obligations. These will further reduce the environmental impact of steelmaking,” says Tomáš Mosler, air protection manager in LIBERTY Ostrava.

LIBERTY Ostrava is an integrated steel business with an annual production capacity of approximately 3.6 million tonnes per annum serving 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. It is part of LIBERTY Steel Group, which 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. Headquartered in London, GFG Alliance employs 35,000 people, across 10 countries and has revenues of USD $20bn.

¹Fugitive emissions – non-ducted emissions arising from the handling and transport of dusty material
²Straighteners – forming machines for straightening rolled products

News release .pdf

LIBERTY Ostrava a.s.
Barbora Černá Dvořáková
Head of Communicaions
T +420 595 683 390
M +420 606 774 346
barbora.cerna-dvorakova@libertysteelgroup.com