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Environmental performance
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Atmospheric protection
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Sustainable management of water resources
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High recycling rate
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Energy efficient production
Novolipetsk Steel is one of the most advanced steelmaking companies in the world in relation to the environment In 2002, NLMK became one of the first Russian steelmakers to successfully pass the certification of its Environmental Management System (EMS) by TUV CERT Certification (Germany), an international certification agency. In 2013, NLMK's Environmental Management System was certified as compliant with ISO 14001 by BSI (British Standards Institution, UK).
Since 2000, NLMK invested approximately RUB 46 bn in its environmental projects. Since then, the output has almost doubled and the company became the largest steel producer in Russia. Adoption of new state-of-the-art technologies alongside a major equipment upgrade significantly reduced the Group's environmental footprint.
Greenhouse gas emissions at NLMK Lipetsk in 2020
In line with the EU ETS methodology (European Union Emission Trading Scheme), 2020 greenhouse gas emissions for key raw materials at the Lipetsk site, namely sinter, coke, lime, and dolomite, totaled 0.220, 0.376, 1.054, and 1.521 tonnes of CO2-eq. per tonne of product, respectively. For pig iron production, the indicator totaled 1.391 tonnes of CO2-eq., a 5% gap with the EU ETS reference value (calculated for 10% of the best steel companies in the EU). NLMK Group plans to reduce this gap to 3% during its current strategic cycle. This information is accurate as of the date of its publication (11 June 2021).
Investment in NLMK Group environmental projects, $ m
Today, NLMK Group has halved its specific atmospheric emissions, achieving the level of best available technologies in Russia.
Lipetsk, home to 80% of NLMK Group’s production facilities, has been officially recognized as of the greenest Russian steelmaking cities.
Evolution of specific atmospheric emissions, 2000-2020
NLMK Group is one of the industry leaders in terms of water use efficiency and minimal negative impact on water basins in the regions of its operation due to the adoption of advanced environmental technologies.
Specific water consumption (difference between water use and water disposal) has been consistently reduced reaching 2.2 m³/t in 2022.
Most NLMK Group businesses use closed-circuit water supply systems. NLMK Lipetsk, Altai-Koks, VIZ Steel, NLMK Kaluga, Stoilensky, NLMK Ural, NLMK Metalware, NLMK DanSteel, NLMK Indiana, NLMK Pennsylvania, NLMK Sharon Coating, NLMK Verona, NLMK Clabecq and NLMK La Louvière have introduced water recycling systems both local for individual facilities and plant-wide. This serves to reduce fresh water intake and industrial waste water discharge into surface water bodies.
The share of recycled water supply in NLMK Group remains at a consistently high level of over 97%. In 2020, NLMK Group reached a five-year low of water consumption due to its operational measures for consumption control.
In 2020 NLMK Lipetsk implemented a project to upgrade local wastewater treatment facilities, with investment amounting to RUB 118 million. Over the last five years, the volume of water disposal at the Lipetsk site went down by 4.2 million m³ (-34%).
Over the last 40 years the intake of fresh water from the Voronezh River by the Group’s core site in Lipetsk has been reduced ninefold.
Water intake from the Voronezh River, mln m³
The Strategy 2023 goal to reduce the discharge of pollutants into water bodies by 25% across NLMK Group has been attained in 2021.
Dynamics of pollutants entering water bodies with effluents across NLMK Group, kt
In 2020 NLMK Lipetsk completed a capex project to upgrade its local waste water treatment facilities with investment totalling RUB 118 million. In 2022, compared to 2016, the discharge of pollutants was cut by 56% due to the upgrade of local treatment facilities at NLMK Lipetsk site completed in 2020 and a set of actions to reduce waste water discharge by 40%.
NLMK Lipetsk is operating a closed-circuit water system. There has been zero discharge of industrial and storm waters into water bodies since July 2009.
Reduction of NLMK’s specific industrial and storm effluents into water bodies, kg /t of steel
98.3% is the share of recycled water in the total volume of NLMK water consumption.
Specific water consumption at NLMK Lipetsk production site is now seven times lower than in 2000, surpassing the Russian BAT level.
Specific water intake from surface water bodies by NLMK Lipetsk, m³/t of steel
In 2004 the NLMK stopped accumulating waste and took comprehensive measures to recycle. The Company plans to recycle all the waste that accumulated over the years by 2020.
Evolution of secondary resources recycling, 2014-2020
* Evolution of secondary resources recycling, %
* Evolution of secondary resources recycling, %
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Environmental performanceInvestment, impact
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Environmental developmentGoal, projects, investments and effects
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Environmental managementManagement, policy, certification, appraisal