The Ukrainian industrial company Interpipe intends to implement a number of projects in the next three years, taking into account the environmental component in the amount of $100 million, Denys Morozov, the First Deputy Director General of Interpipe, said at the first international forum “Decarbonization of the Steel Industry: a Challenge for Ukraine.”
“If we do not engage in decarbonization, then in the next 20-30 years the climate can be irreversibly changed,” Morozov stated.
According to him, in addition to an economic effect, all these investments have an obligatory environmental component. Among the projects, the top manager highlighted the construction of a wheelset assembly workshop for the EU and U.S. markets, the construction of a new thermal department at Interpipe Niko Tube, and the installation of a new hydraulic press at Interpipe Nyzhniodniprovsky Pipe Rolling Plant. Thanks to the implementation of these projects, both emissions of harmful substances and water consumption will be reduced.
The company will also continue to work on further reducing emissions of CO2 and other harmful substances, waste treatment, and increasing energy efficiency of production.
The expert stated that the issues of climate and decarbonization of the economy are now on the agenda of all the leading countries of the world. The European Union has adopted a special program called Green Deal, according to which the achievement of climate neutrality on the European continent is planned by 2050. The decarbonization of the metallurgical industry plays an important role in it.
According to his presentation, in all developed countries the share of electrometallurgy in total steel production is dominant or significant. Thus, the leaders are the countries of the Middle East (94%), Mexico (83%), the United States (71%) and Turkey (69%). India (56%), Canada (46%) and the European Union (42%) are not far behind.
“In this regard, Ukraine looks like an outspoken outsider – the share of electrometallurgy does not exceed 5%,” Morozov noted, urging to increase it.
