LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 “ Tor Faerden Senior Adviser Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) Reduction of Mercury Emissions from Manganese Industry and Secondary Steel Industry

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 The Norwegian goal for reduced emissions of mercury Compared with 1995, the emissions shall be significantly reduced by 2010.

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 Emission and Deposition of Mercury in Norway

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 Reduced Hg emissions from the Manganese Industry 2 manganese smelters formerly used ore from Australia and South Africa. In 1999 the smelters were bought by a corporation which also is the owner of a mine in Gabon. Change to ore from Gabon would increase mercury emissions from 10 to kg per year. The smelters were instructed to apply for a pollution permit for Hg

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 A permit was issued by SFT, allowing the two smelters to emit 36 and 15 kg mercury per year. The alternative routes for the smelters: 1 To use ore from competitors 2 To install gas cleaning equipment The company decided to go for alternative 2

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 The challenges: No proven technology was available The waste gas is explosive The way ahead: 4 possible suppliers carried out pilot tests at one of the plants to demonstrate possible technologies and to monitor cleaning efficiency.

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 Manganese smelters Simplified flow sheet for waste gas Smelting furnace Wet scrubber Wet ESP Hg adsorber CO gas to consumer HgDust and PAH Dust

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 The result: Installation of full scale gas cleaning facilities were completed in 2001/2002. Investment per smelter: 5 mill EUR Cleaning efficiency Hg > 99 % Dust emission < 1 mg/Nm 3 Other heavy metals: Low emissions

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007

The secondary steel plant Product: Reinforcing bars Capacity: tons per year (medium-sized secondary steel plant) Hg emission: kg per year Raw material: Steel scrap of low / medium quality, contaminated with heavy metals from surface treatment or from components previously connected to the steel Steel scrap: tons per year. 50 % is imported

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 Hg-contamination of steel scrap: Hg in electrical components connected to steel constructions in used cars in instruments and electronic equipment in various consumer goods Hg in chemicals used for anti-fouling of steel A volume of Hg similar to 1 matchbox mixed into tons of scrap per day is equal to 150 kg per year

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 Testwork done by the steel plant: Test smelting combined with monitoring of Hg in waste gas with - Selected types of scrap - Scrap from selected suppliers Main conclusion: The only way of achieving significant reduction of Hg emissions is through waste gas cleaning

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 The steel process

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007

The challenges: - Significant short term variations in concentration of dust, Hg and other heavy metals -No proven technology available The way ahead: A number of possible suppliers of gas cleaning technology were invited to make pilot scale tests and to monitor cleaning efficiency

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 Test result: Possible future emission limit value: 30 kg per year Also stricter limit values for dust and other heavy metals Probably possible to clean 95 % of Hg in primary waste gas and 85 % of total emissions from the furnace

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 Decision on new emission limit values has been postponed until similar restrictions are given to other steel companies in EU. Arguments: Investment (6 mill EUR) and operating cost (1 mill EUR/year) would weaken the competitive strength of the company Unfair to place this burden on a single company within the steel industry since the problem is global and not local

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 News in 2006/2007 The steel plant has been sold to Celsa Group, Spain. The new owner has decided to convert the steel process to the CONSTEEL process (preheating and continuous charging of scrap into the electric steel furnace). Investment 20 mill EUR Environmenal adventage: Easier to collect and treat all waste gas The company has applied for a new pollution permit where treatment of Hg and improved treatment of dust will be included.

LRTAP TFHM meeting Vienna 6-8 June 2007 Future recommendations on the international level: It is recommended that emissions of Hg from the steel industry should be examined closely. Steps should be taken to regulate Hg emissions from relevant industries.