Glavgosexpertiza Russia (the Federal Department of State Expertise) reviewed the design documentation and engineering survey results for the construction of coke oven battery complex No. 12 at Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK). The results of the expert state review were positive.

MMK is one of the world's largest steelmakers and a leading Russian steelmaker. As part of its programme for the development and technical refitting of MMK's coke production, coke oven battery No. 12 is due to be built with an annual ouput of dry coke for blast furnace fuel of up to 2.5 million tonnes. The project will enable the successive reconstruction of worn-out coke oven batteries and decommissioning of obsolete coke oven batteries. In addition, the use of modern equipment in the coking processes will reduce the plant’s environmental impact.     

The project documentation, which was approved by Glavgosexpertiza Russia, provides for the construction of coke oven battery No. 12 in two stages. The first stage will involve construction of two coke oven battery units with two coke dry quenching units, one desulphurisation and denitration unit. The coal preparation shop, liquid ammonia warehouse, coke-sorting facilities, air compressor station, fire-pumping station and engineering facilities of coke battery oven No. 12 will also be constructed during the first stage. Its capacity under stand-alone conditions will be 1.25 million tonnes of coke per year. Two more coke oven battery units with processing facilities will be built at the second stage. The increase in production at the commissioning of the second stage will amount to 1.25 million tonnes of coke per year.

"Coke oven battery No.12 with a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of dry coke per year will enable MMK to decommission five obsolete batteries, reduce gross emissions by 11,350 tonnes per year and benzopyrene and formaldehyde emissions by 9-12 times. The cost of this largest project is about RUB 60 billion," said Pavel Shilyaev, MMK CEO, "Due to coronavirus-related restrictions, we had to postpone this project in 2020, but now we intend to accelerate construction of the new coke oven battery. The first stage is due to be launched in 2022 and by 2023, the rest of the units will be up and running."

The general designer of the new coke oven battery is the Magnitogorsk branch of Sinosteel Equipment and Engineering Co and the design documentation developer is MAGNITOGORSK GIPROMEZ.