Ostrava, 11 June 2019 – ArcelorMittal Ostrava, member of the Liberty Steel group, has launched a new deacidifier and ammonia disperser, which are part of the desulphuring process of coke oven gas at coke plant. The device had been in operation since 1998 and was in need of an overhaul. The investment worth of CZK 107 million, together with installation of a new conversion within the fine sulphide scrubbing section, has substantially contributed towards the desulphuring technology modernisation as it enables to lower content of sulphides in the coke oven gas below 300 mg/m3. The revamp took place in full operation of the mill and it took 8 months.

“New technologies help us reduce emissions of sulphide to less than 300mg. This is 40 % less than the emission limit based on the BAT, best available technology standards,” says Kamil Kičmer, head of the coke plant at the Ostrava steel mill.

Coke oven gas, originating during the process of coke production, finds further use as fuel for other operation processes at the steel mill while saving non-renewable energy resources. Prior to its use as replacement for natural gas, raw coke oven gas has to be rid of undesirable substances such as ammonia and sulphide. This is achieved by processing the gas in wet hydrogen sulphide and ammonia scrubbers which also include the newly installed deacidifying and ammonia dispensing technologies that ensure regeneration of the scrubbing solutions.

“Investments in lowering the content of sulphide at coke plant will lead to instant cuts in SO2 emissions during all operation processes that use the gas as fuel – at power plant, rolling mills or hot blast stoves for blast furnaces,” adds Kičmer.

ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s. is an integrated steel business with a production capacity of 3.6 million tonnes of steel. At present it annually produces c. 2.2 million tonnes of steel, which is mainly used in 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, the company has 6,300 employees. The 2018 average monthly income was CZK 39,180. As a result of the above-standard greening, the company manufactures its products with a minimum possible environmental footprint. It is part of Liberty Steel, a global steel and mining business with workforce of around 30,000 people in more than 200 localities on 6 continents with an annual manufacturing capacity of 18 million tonnes of steel. It is part of the global group GFG Alliance.

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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