The company’s modernization program and the recent launch of some new facilities made it possible for Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Industrial Complex to cut back on the amount of harmful atmospheric emissions. The enterprise began a major reconstruction in the early 90s when the obsolete equipment and outdated production shops were being done away with and replaced with new machines fitted with environmental protection devices. These were the LD plant, the hot-rolling mill known as 2000, and the recovery plant for the coke and by-product processing facility. In addition, Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Industrial Complex has been renovating its mining and processing production facilities since 2000 and raises its metal product output every year while decreasing the harmful environmental effects.

The company’s top executives looked into the way their environmental management system worked in the first half of 2007, including data available on the results of internal audits and reaching the target figures for 2007.

Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Industrial Complex emitted 1,340 tons of pollutants in the atmosphere in January-June 2007, which comes to 53.6% of the annual limit. The enterprise recycled 1,820,000 tons of dross, which constitutes 52% of the annual plan, and cleaned up and restored .84 hectares of land that had previously been used as an unauthorized disposal site.

The company conducted internal audits in 31 of its departments in January-June 2007 compared with only 26 departments a year earlier. This was due to the fact that the enterprise acquired Russian Copper Company and needed to get the new addition ready for the external certification audit.

Apart from that, the third drop-hammer plant belonging to Profit (the supplier of scrap metal for Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Industrial Complex) has recently been launched in the course of a solemn ceremony. Last year, Profit supplied the complex with nearly 4 million tons of scrap metal, which is 1.5 million tons (or 68%) better than in 2005. This year, Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Industrial Complex expects to get as many as 5 million tons of scrap metal from its supplier.

The complex has been trying to decrease the negative impact it makes on the environment by using less agglomeration and coke processing and building up on the use of scrap metal; besides, its long-term conservational program is based on the use of the best existing technologies and touches upon virtually all of the company’s production processes. Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Industrial Complex spends over 1 billion RUR within the framework of the project annually, including 200 to 250 million RUR spent on putting up environmental protection facilities every year.

Meeting the environmental standards is a must for any of the company’s new construction projects. This has already led to reduced discharge and emission levels despite impressive production growth. The enterprise’s environmental management system has been certified in accordance with ISO 14001-2004 requirements, their press officer reports.