Environmental investments further improve sustainability
Operational costs for Outokumpu's environmental activities totalled EUR 58 million in 2009, with costs for the treatment and disposal of waste totalling EUR 3 million. Provisions and guarantees connected with environmental considerations totalled EUR 13.4 million. In addition to this, provisions for the aftercare of old mining sites totalled EUR 0.5 million. Environmental investments by Outokumpu totalled some EUR 11.7 million (2008: EUR 18 million), despite the economic downturn. This shows great commitment from the Group.
Environmental investments despite the economic downturn.
Main environmental investments
In 2009, the Group launched a project to install a new acid regeneration plant at Avesta, an investment of EUR 28 million. The objective of this two year project is to reduce the amount of nitrates discharged into the Dala River by a third.
Other environmental investments in 2009 included the following:
- Tubular Products Wildwood in Florida, the US substituted propane for natural gas in its annealing furnaces.
- A new acid unloading station at Degerfors, Sweden (EUR 1.5 million).
- At the Tornio Works, Finland construction of a new steel recycling facility in cooperation with Refelco Oy. Outokumpu's share of this investment is EUR 5 million and Refelco's share is EUR 1.5 million.
- New bulk storage for acids was installed at New Castle, IN, the US.
- A new sulphuric acid tank was installed at Alloy Steel Rod plant, in Sheffield in the UK.