Baku Steel an Azerbaijani steel producer has ordered a new electric arc furnace from Siemens VAI Metals Technologies. The plant is part of an expansion project to help Baku Steel raise its production capacity to around 1.1 million tonnes of steel per annum.

The project is complemented by mechanical equipment for a ladle furnace and a waste gas cleaning system, which will reduce the emissions of the steel works to European standards. The order has a value of several million euros, and the project is scheduled to be completed in April 2013.

The Baku Steel Co. is the leading producer of structural steels in Azerbaijan. The new 50 tonne electric arc furnace from Siemens will enable the company to produce 500,000 tonnes of steel per annum, some 150,000 tonnes more than the capacity of the present plant. This will increase Baku Steel's total production capacity to over 1.1 million tonnes per annum.

Siemens will also install a waste gas cleaning system. This comprises direct dedusting systems for the electric arc furnace and the existing 50 ton ladle furnace, as well as a secondary dedusting system for the EAF bay. After the conversion, the complete system will have a total suction capacity of about 950,000 Nm³ per hour. The fully automated waste gas cleaning plant will limit the dust content of the waste gases to a maximum of 10 mg/Nm³, so that the Baku Steel works will meet European environmental standards for dust emissions.

The project also covers mechanical equipment for the ladle furnace, including a compact gantry, a water cooled roof and current-conducting electrode arms and the basic automation for the electric arc furnace. Siemens will also assist Baku Steel with the installation and commissioning.