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TMK views ESG as essential to maintaining leadership

TMK is strongly committed to ESG principles (embraces environmentally friendly technologies, develops its employees, and meets high standards of corporate governance) and sees ESG agenda as a critical part of maintaining market leadership. This was the message from Igor Pyshmintsev, TMK’s Director for Research Development and Head of the R&D Facility in Skolkovo, as he spoke at the ESG (R)Evolution congress.

Speaking at the Scientific Perspective on ESG session, Igor Pyshmintsev pointed out that all elements of ESG, which promotes sustainable technology and business development, had been present in TMK’s activities even before this concept became widespread.

“In little more than 15 years, we have transformed our production technology, moving away from open-hearth steelmaking and switching completely to electric arc furnace technology. As a result, we dramatically reduced our per unit impact on the environment, increased productivity, and achieved a new level of product quality. Thus we were able to embrace import substitution, having solved this challenge, and today we are confidently competing in international markets. An important aspect of these efforts is that we primarily use scrap metal as feedstock to produce high-quality pipes, which minimizes the carbon footprint of our products,” said Igor Pyshmintsev.

He emphasized that TMK is also strongly focused on social value creation, prioritizing the development of human capital. TMK2U Corporate University has built a multistage system to develop employee competencies, which comprises a competitive element in addition to traditional educational functions. For example, as part of the annual Horizons corporate forum, the Youth Scientific and Technical Conference is held to enable young specialists to present the best innovative ideas they have suggested at their respective companies, spanning a wide range of applications, from purely technological to financial and environmental projects. Winners are invited to implement and scale their projects across the Company.

“We are also fundamentally transforming the image of metallurgy. A person should feel comfortable working with a steelmaker, their workplace should be different from what it used to be in the old times. Today, a steelworker is not a person wielding a ladle in his hands but a specialist sitting in front of a computer. We have digitized a large number of processes – the link between science and business is obvious here, and it is the key to successful growth. If a company purposefully aims to remain a leader, to secure a leadership position and long-term competitiveness, all ESG elements should definitely be embedded in its daily operations,” said Igor Pyshmintsev.