notedwhenansweringaquestionabout thepipes
productionplan for2014.
A slab isa rectangularbilletmadebyacontinuous
castingmethod tobe further re-rolled intoafinished
product, etheraplateoracoil.Until recentlyRussian
slabproductionhasbeenmostlyexportoriented.
Cooperationbetween the two steel companies freed
frombroadplates import, considerably improved
logisticsandproductionatdomestic steel and tubes
companiesensuringpermanentlyhighquality
ofproducts for theoil andgascomplexdue toa
comprehensivecontrol at all theproduction stages.
“Ourcooperationestablished lastAugusthas
helpedus solve themostpressingproblem freeing
Russian tubescompanies fromplate imports.We
haveestablishedahigh-technologybigdiameter
pipesproductionchain: from ironoreexcavationand
steelmaking topipesmanufacture.Thishasbecome
possibledue toNLMKandOMKmultibillion-ruble
investments in technicalmodernization. Inmybelief,
out futurepartnershipwill becomeabenchmark in
thedevelopmentof thewhole industry strengthening
OMK’s leadership in theworld tubesandpipes
market andhelpingNLMKGroup tobecomea
leader in the suppliesof steelproducts for the tubes
andpipes segment”,O.Bagrincommentedon the
agreement achieved.
TheHeavyPlatesMill-5000also rolls slabs
250mm thick, 1400—2200mmwide, 355mm thick,
1700—2200mmwide, and310mm thick, 1700—
2200mmwide.NLMK is theonlyRussianproducer
manufacturing slabs355mm thickand2200mm
wide.Afterconvertermeltingall the steelmade for
Vyksafirstgoes to the ladle-furnace for treatment,
then to theRHunit fordegassing tobe followed
bypouring into slabsmainlyat continuouscasting
plant№8.All theseplantsandunitswerebuiltor
modernized in thecourseof the second stageof the
implementationof theprogramon the technical
modernizationof themainNLMK facilities in
2010—2012.
In the recent yearsdue tomodernizationofold
andcommissioningofnew facilitiesNLMKhas
considerably improved itsout-of-furnace steel
treatment.TodayLipetskoperates four ladle-furnace
unitswith the total capacityof12Mt/y, ten ladlefinal
separationunits, twoRHunitswith thecapacityof
400kt/y in theconverterplant№1and thecapacityof
4Mt/y in theconverterplant№2 (commissioned in
September2011).
VyksaSteelWorksproduced1.285Mtofbig
diameterpipes in2012—2013 forbigRussian
and internationalpipelineprojects including
Bovanenkovo—Ukhta,Ukhta—Torzhokby
Gazprom,Zapolyarye—PurpebyTransneft, building
of the third lineofMiddleAsia—Chinapipelineand
manymore.
L
ReviewbyMaximLobada.
Special Issue 2014
Metal Supply&Sales
