The Nadezhda Smelter, the site of Nornickel’s Sulfur Program, is preparing for the pilot operation of a unique environmental production facility. Almost all major equipment has been delivered and assembled. An engineering firm TechInnovations will carry out the launch of the project.

**The work on the construction of the Sulfur program is going on around the clock**

"TechInnovations specializes in engineering support of large industrial facilities, in particular, the contractor has experience in commissioning in petrochemical and gas chemical industries,“said Pavel Zhigulin, head of commissioning of the project office of the Sulfur Program at the Nadezhda Smelter.

We are now working on the development of methods for individual testing of each unit of process equipment, regulations and instructions for operating the complex in accordance with safety requirements and standards of the Russian Federation. The company needs to be sure in every element of the process chain, in its compliance with the requirements of the supervisory authorities, in the consistency of all project participants during the start-up of the facility and its further successful operation.

“In total, there are about 900 units of technological equipment in the shops of the Sulfur Program at the Nadezhda Smelter, not counting the auxiliary equipment. Each unit must first undergo individual and then all-encompassing tests. The finale will be a comprehensive test of the entire chain — from the entry of gases into the process to placement in the gypsum storehouse of the final utilization product — gypsum,” says Dmitry Zakharov, chief technologist at TechInnovations.

The comprehensive tests will be started when all the systems of the future production, both engineering and auxiliary, down to the fire extinguishing, recycling water supply, electrical, and hydraulic transport systems are ready.

According to Zakharov, the first gas from the smelter for its purification and production of sulfuric acid is expected to flow in autumn 2023. During this process a comprehensive test of equipment will run in different modes, docking and interaction of all systems will be tested as well. After debugging and bringing the stable technological mode up to design capacity with production of high quality products, the complex will be put into pilot operation.

TechInnovations will also deal with training of Sulfur Program operating personnel. The company has already started developing the necessary documents: process instructions for the personnel, equipment passports, process regulations, safety requirements. The entire package of documents will be approved by Russia’s Federal Service for Environmental, Technological, and Nuclear Supervision.

Installation of Sulfur Program equipment at Nadezhda Smelter nears completion