NLMK announced that it has decommissioned coke batteries No 3 and No 4 with a combined capacity of 0.68 million tonnes per year at its main production site in Lipetsk.

This decision was driven by the recent significant deterioration of demand for coke following the drop in steel production both in Russia and globally. NLMK's production plans envisaged the halt of operations of these coke batteries commissioned in 1959 due to the significant level of equipment depreciation and relatively high level of emissions by 2011.

As a result of the shutdown of batteries No 3 and 4, coke production capacity of NLMK is reduced to 7.3 million tonnes including 2.7 million tonnes at its main production site and 4.6 million tonnes at its West Siberian subsidiary Altai-koks, the largest coke producer in Russia. Remaining coke-making capacity ensures NLMK’s 100% self-sufficiency in coke including its plans to increase blast furnace capacity after construction of Blast Furnace No. 7 in Lipetsk.

In October 2008, NLMK decommissioned coke batteries No. 7 and 8 with a total capacity of 1.04 million tonnes per year.