Stelco boiler problem spurs pollution, plant shutdown

A central boiler problem forced a shutdown of Stelco coking operations last week, spurring pollution that is under review by provincial environmental officials.

A resident reported emissions and unusual flames on July 12 from the stacks at the recently reborn steelmaker’s coking operations in Hamilton.

Stelco did not immediately respond to The Spectator’s requests for comment Monday.

But the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks confirmed the steelmaker experienced “operational issues” while switching over boilers for maintenance July 12.

The problems temporarily halted steam supplies to the coke ovens and byproduct operations, resulting in emissions from the central boiler stacks and coke oven battery, said ministry spokesperson Gary Wheeler.

Coke is made by heating coal to high temperatures in a series of ovens. It is used in blast furnaces to make iron, which in turn is used to make steel.

Wheeler said coking operations resumed July 14. “The ministry is gathering additional details and will be reviewing the materials to ensure Stelco complies with all applicable legislation and regulations,” he said.

The ministry is also looking into a black plume of coal and carbon released Friday from a blast furnace at ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s bayfront steel plant. The company said Friday it was investigating the cause of the bleeder emissions and “assessing any potential impact.”

Wheeler said the ministry is awaiting more information from the company and is also independently analyzing particulate samples from the scene.

But he also noted officials reviewed data from the Hamilton Air Monitoring Network, an industry-run air monitoring system, and found “no significant increases” in particulate matter “during or after the event.”