Russian Copper Company took part in the International Workshop on Environmental Studies and Technologies (May 30 to June 2, 2006, Chelyabinsk Region). The forum was set up by Moscow-based International Scientific and Technical Center and attended by the environmentalists from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and by the faculty of Russian, Kirghiz, and Georgian research institutes.

Karabashmed CJSC, part of Russian Copper Company Holding, was invited to attend the workshop and present its innovational projects on industrial engineering procedures aimed at dealing with the environmental disasters of Karabash, Chelyabinsk Region. Evgeniy Frolov, Production Director of Karabashmed, presented his report.

What is more, the scientists were taken on a technical tour of the company on June 2. The workshop participants attended the oxygen plant Linde AG (Germany), the gas-handling equipment shop with its Swedish Boliden Contech wet gas purification unit and Danish WSA Haldor Topsoe unit for converting humid sulphurous gases, and the Astrian Ausmelt furnace currently under construction.

The company invested over $90 million into modernization in 2003-2005. This resulted into full elimination of dust and particulate pollutant emissions connected with metallurgical production as well as the end of dumping the used water in the municipal pond; also, the emissions of sulfurous anhydride went down by .2 of the critical upper limit. Karabashmed is now finishing the renovation of its copper equipment and completing the non-waste recycling system. Having done everything with Ausmelt furnace and started the processing plant, Russian Copper Company will make the area near the plant green and healthy again.

The participants of the tour also had a chance to meet the company’s management and discuss the environmental issues and projects in modern industry. According to General Director of Karabashmed Nikolai Azarov, environmental projects give little yield yet require a lot of investments.

‘The complex renovation of the complex allows the company to keep up with the modern demands, so we don’t spare money when it comes to the environment. It’s easier and better to invest in environmental modernization than constantly pay emission fees and face the unhappy population,’ Mr Azarov said.