NLMK says its Novolipetsk steelworks in Russia has generated Rbs543 million ($10.1m) of economic gains, “by implementing innovative solutions”. Changes at the group’s main Lipetsk site trebled savings last year compared to 2013, it adds.

A change in the fuel regime of the recovery co-generation plant boilers resulted in the share of blast furnace gas in heat energy generation increasing from the projected rate of 60% to 85%, NLMK says. This meant the share of gas fell from 40% to 15%, and natural gas purchases decreased five-fold to 4000-5000 m³/h, making annual savings of Rbs305.5m (see Kallanish, 4 March).

In total, some “2,400 innovative solutions were implemented in 2014,” including improvements to product quality and equipment operations and technological processes, plus optimising the use of material and energy resources, the company adds.

Last year, Novolipetsk iron and steelworks reported its all-time best annual production in the 80 years of NLMK’s history. Output reached 12.6m tonnes, or some 80% of all NLMK Group, and about 15% of all steel produced in Russia, the company notes.