Tata Steel: Refurbished Blast Furnace 6 resumes production
Blast Furnace 6 at Tata Steel Nederland in IJmuiden, the Netherlands, is once again producing pig iron. It was restarted following a recent modernisation. The start-up process is expected to take around a week.
The blast furnace has been on the site since 1967. It is one of the most efficient blast furnaces in the world. Blast furnace 6 was last completely modernised in 1985.
A further, smaller-scale refurbishment took place in 2002. During this latest ‘shutdown’, the control systems, all the refractory material and the raw material supply system were replaced, amongst other things.
Apart from the fact that the modernisation and refurbishment of a blast furnace is a major undertaking, this occasion is also considered unique for another reason: “This will be the last time we carry out such a large-scale operation on a blast furnace,” reports Tom Eussen, Managing Director of Tata Steel IJmuiden.
From 2030, the company will switch to steel production without coke or coal. Blast furnace 7 will be the first of the two blast furnaces to be decommissioned. This will be followed by the transition to facilities powered by natural gas and hydrogen. Blast furnace 6 will be decommissioned when the second phase of Tata Steel Nederland’s Green Steel plan begins. This is expected to take place around 2035.
With the recommissioning of Blast Furnace 6, Tata Steel Nederland’s plants are now back to operating at full capacity.
Direct improvements to environmental impact
Tata Steel has also used the blast furnace’s decommissioning to implement a number of further optimisations. Just as with Blast Furnace 7, extraction hoods have been installed. These now extract the dust released during tapping.
The charging of the furnace will also be carried out differently from now on, resulting in less dust being released. Finally, covers have been added near conveyor belts and other areas to minimise dust emissions even further.
The measures introduced will lead to a further reduction in the blast furnace’s environmental impact. Measures have also been implemented to minimise dust levels and other emissions during the blowing process.