Russia-based Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) plans to commission its Blast Furnace (BF) No. 2 in July. The blast furnace is in the final stage of the upgrade.
Reconstruction of this furnace had begun in February per the company’s major repairs programme. With this renovation, the productivity of the furnace is expected to increase. MMK’s BF 2 measures 1,380 cubic meters with a daily pig iron production capacity of 3,800mt. The modernisation of this furnace entailed an investment of RUB5bn ($72.60mn). The upgraded furnace is likely to curb pollution due to reduced dust emissions.
The reconstruction entailed dismantling all the elements of the old furnace to be replaced with a modernised cooling system. A similar cooling design was used in the steelmaker’s BF No 1, reconstructed in 2018.