ArcelorMittal Poland's ongoing modernization efforts at its coke plant in Zdzieszowice represent a significant investment of PLN 165 ($40.9) million. Among the recent developments is the installation of a new 90-meter chimney, replacing a much taller structure dating back to the 1970s. This new chimney has been integrated with new flue gas ducts connected to three boilers in the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant. Additionally, work has commenced on installing a system to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in flue gases from each of the boilers, which are powered by purified coke oven gas. Further modernization tasks include upgrading all three boilers and dismantling the old chimney. These comprehensive upgrades are slated for completion by 2026. This initiative holds significance not only for ArcelorMittal Poland but also for local residents, as the company's CHP plant supplies heat to homes in Zdzieszowice through the municipal network.

Last year marked the commencement of the design phase preceding the demolition of the old chimney. These intricate and demanding tasks involve not only the efforts of coke plant staff but also external contractors. The endeavor commenced in March and is scheduled to continue until the summer holidays, with over a dozen individuals currently engaged in the demolition process.

Meanwhile, work is progressing on the installation of a nitrogen oxide reduction system for each of the three boilers. The first connection is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of October 2024, with the entire process expected to be completed by winter 2025. Czeslaw Sikorski, Vice-President of the Management Board of ArcelorMittal Poland and Managing Director for Coke Production, highlights, "This installation, utilizing advanced catalytic reduction technology for nitrogen oxides, will enable us to decrease emissions of this substance by up to threefold." "But that's not all," he adds. "The modernization of the three boilers at the CHP plant is also underway, with the first of them set to be commissioned in November."

The modernization efforts underway at the CHP plant constitute just one aspect of the investment program at the Zdzieszowice coke plant. Additionally, the plant has initiated the reconstruction of the coke oven gas expansion tank, aimed at stabilizing the gas pressure within the internal network of the coke plant. "The implementation of this project will notably enhance both the process's safety and the reliability of gas supply to external customers. The new 30,000 m³ tank will replace the current facility, with completion of the works anticipated next year," explains Konrad Zarzycki, Director of the Zdzieszowice coke plant.

The collective value of the ongoing projects at the Zdzieszowice coke plant amounts to PLN 165 million. These projects involve the collaboration of 25 external companies on-site, with a projected completion timeline set for 2026.

"The steel industry's journey towards decarbonization presents a significant challenge for EU producers, including our company," states Wojciech Koszuta, CEO of ArcelorMittal Poland. "Our ultimate goal is for ArcelorMittal Poland to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. However, until we reach that milestone, we are actively modernizing our facilities to minimize the environmental footprint of our production processes," he elaborates. "While we're moving towards implementing new technologies, the necessity for coke in blast furnaces persists. That's why we're prioritizing efforts to reduce emissions from the coking plant in Zdzieszowice," Koszuta concludes.