NLMK Kaluga, NLMK Group’s plant specializing in the production of steel and long products for construction, has cast the first tonne of steel as part of hot testing at its EAF and Rolling Shops. In June the plant is poised to begin production of rebar and sections on an industrial scale and to launch sales of finished goods.

NLMK Kaluga is located 90 km South West of Moscow. The plant is designed to supply high-quality products to the deficit in the long steel supply market of Central Russia which consumes over a third of long products in the country. The new plant’s annual steelmaking capacity is 1.5 mt; its rolling capacity amounts to 900,000 t (with the possibility to expand to 1.5 mt). Investments into the project totaled approximately RUB 38 bn.

The plant is equipped with the most advanced steelmaking and rolling equipment from Siemens VAI (Austria) and SMS Meer S.p.A. (Italy). Its universal rolling mill allows for producing both rebar and angles and channels.

Oleg Bagrin, NLMK Group President (Chairman of the Management Board), said: “The Kaluga plant is in many ways superior to its Russian peers. Relying on the most advanced technologies, it offers a wide range of products of the highest quality, and its proximity to the customer makes these products extremely competitive. This year, the Kaluga plant will make it possible to grow long product sales by an additional 350,000 tonnes."

Process design solutions applied at NLMK Kaluga will ensure a high level of energy and environmental efficiency. For instance, the modern dust and gas cleaning systems installed at NLMK Kaluga will neutralize at least 99% of air emissions, and the closed-loop water cycle will completely eliminate any waste water discharge into the water bodies.

The launch of the new production facility has created 1,250 new jobs with competitive salaries and social benefits.