Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works won the national ECOTECH LEADER award in the category "Construction of Environmental Facilities" for the implementation of its environmental strategy.

The ECOTECH LEADER national environmental technology award ceremony was held in Moscow on November 22. Presenting MMK with the award, the organisers noted the Company¡¯s significant achievements in environmental protection activities over the past few years. In addition, the jury awarded MMK with a special certificate for the effective promotion of environmental technologies.

As part of its Development Strategy up to 2025, MMK is consistently reducing both gross and atmospheric emissions and reducing the technogenic load on the environment in Magnitogorsk. For example, since 2017, MMK has invested over RUB 3.2 billion in projects aimed at reducing atmospheric emissions and has reduced gross pollutant emissions by 22 thousand tonnes. In addition, the Comprehensive Air-quality Index (CAI) for Magnitogorsk has decreased 2.5 times from 2017 to 2020 (from 15.2 to 6.1). Thanks to the Company's further efforts to reduce emissions, Magnitogorsk's CAI should fall to 5 by 2025, which corresponds to the ¡®Clean City¡¯ status.

Another MMK goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1.8 tonnes CO©ü-eq per tonne of steel (below the global average) by 2025. The Company is helping to achieve this goal by building new production facilities equipped with the best environmental technologies: coke oven battery No. 12 is currently under construction (the first stage is expected to be launched in 2022), and the commissioning of blast furnace No. 11 is scheduled for 2024.

MMK's environmental activities are not limited to reducing atmospheric emissions. In 2018, the plant launched a new water recycling system, eliminating industrial discharges into the Magnitogorsk Reservoir. In addition, the Company has re-cultivated the depleted Western pit of Magnitnaya Mountain and is carrying out landscaping work in Magnitogorsk.

"Today, sustainability factors are firmly integrated into MMK Group's strategy, and minimising our environmental impact is a priority for us," Victor Rashnikov, Chairman of MMK's Board of Directors, earlier commented, ¡°We will accomplish it by upgrading our production facilities and increasing efficiency at every stage". The ECOTECH LEADER award was another confirmation of the success of MMK's environmental activities.