Environment

Investments in improving air quality

Following the 2008 start up of operation of ROGESA’s PAN 1 process exhaust treatment system, the final inspection of PAN 2 was completed in 2011. Together the two innovative systems reduce dust emissions at Sintering Plants 2 and 3 by about 80%.

Efficient blast furnace gas-fired power plant

The blast furnace gas-fired power plant of Gichtgaskraftwerk Dillingen GmbH & Co. KG, which began operating in 2010, combines optimum protection of the environment with maximum energy utilization at the Dillingen site. The blast furnace gas-fired power plant has an electric output of around 90 megawatts and a thermal output of 230 megawatts.

By employing the best systems technology currently available, a maximum of 2 billion cubic meters of blast furnace gas can be used annually to produce 570 million kWh of electricity and 400 000 tons of steam and usable heat for consumers at the steel mill site.

The blast furnace gas-fired power plant at the Dillingen site has significantly improved energy efficiency. In 2011, more than two thirds of total electricity requirements were provided by the company’s own power production – with 73.5% coming from the blast furnace gas-fired power plant.

In addition, the blast furnace gas-fired power plant is a highly efficient combined heat and power plant with which the volume of useful heat fed into the relevant steel plant grid to fulfill heating requirements was increased during 2011 to approx. 230 million kWh (2010: approx. 160 million kWh).