Auditing team of TUV NORD CERT GmbH - the international certifying body – conducted recertification audit of the environmental management system at Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) yesterday. The auditors stated that MMK environmental management system meets the requirements of ISO 14001 therefore MMK will receive a new certificate of compliance for another three-year period.

Environmental management system (EMS) is the key component of the general management system at MMK aimed at minimizing harmful impact on the environment. The EMS certified under ISO 14001 international standard has been efficiently implemented at MMK since 2004.

As part of the recertification, 25 structural units at MMK have been inspected. Those units represented the principal production processes falling under the EMS certification. At the moment such processes include mine development and production of limestone, lime, dolomite, macadam, coke products, steel, continuously cast slabs for hot rolling, hot- and cold-rolled rolls and plates, long steel products, cold-rolled band, tin-plate, steel zinc-coated steel, color-coated long steel, zinc-coated and welded pipes, formed section products, electric power and heat transfer agents.

Mill 5000 commissioned in 2009, was the first production unit at MMK to have passed ISO 14001 certification. The auditors checked the technology of thick-plate production and stated that that the mill’s production processes have no significant impact on the atmospheric air and waterbodies.

“Granting ISO 14001 international certificate to MMK goes to prove that not only the plant meets the requirements of environmental legislation but it also makes additional commitment to continuously decrease negative impact on the environment,” - Victor Rashnikov, MMK Chairman of the Board, said in a statement.

According to environmental aspects identified within the EMS, reduction of air-polluting exhaustion is a key element of MMK environmental activities. In 2009, gross exhaustion at MMK fell down by 13.6 percent compared to 2004 when the EMS was first introduced.

Successful recertification has reaffirmed that technical retooling program has resulted not only in dramatic improvement of the assortment and quality of MMK products but also in reduced environmental risks.

“Cautious approach to the environment is one of the major requirements that any up-to-date production facility has to meet. Looking forward to ensuring long-term sustainable growth, Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works sees reducing environmental hazards as one of our strategic goals,” - Victor Rashnikov stated.