This year’s first meeting of the local environmental club members comprising representatives of some social groups took place in Nizhniy Tagil. One of the points on the agenda was discussing the renovation plan proposed by Metallurgical Industrial Complex of Nizhniy Tagil JSC (part of Evraz Group).

According to the director of coke-chemical production of the Complex Nikita Berkutov, starting this year, all of the new projects meet the environmental provisos. Thus, the No. 5 cokery currently under construction includes the unit providing for dust-free delivery of coke; the new slaking units will ensure fewer emissions, and overall modernization of by-product recovery plant will lead to full recycling and cleaning of gas. The construction of No 5. blast furnace provides for compliance with all environmental demands such as the covered casthouse, aspiration system, and sensible water-usage scheme, which should minimize the damage done to the environment. The new heating furnace will replace two obsolete machines thus significantly reducing environmental harm.

These programs have already provided for doing away with over ten obsolete and environmentally unfriendly machines and units; as a result, the amount of emissions is now three times lower, the company’s spokesperson said.

The club approved of what the Complex was doing and encouraged its representatives to go on with it. They also made a number of decisions concerning public service advertising, settlement gardening, and involving the youth into the environmental projects.