Russian steelmaker NLMK Group has shipped transformer (or grain oriented steel) to Ruselprom, a leading electric machinery manufacturer in Russia.

The steel is being used to make energy equipment for the Ural, which is claimed to be the most powerful nuclear icebreaker in the world.

Steel for the stators of two main AC generators (36MW each) on the Ural was produced at NLMK’s Lipetsk site. An entire batch of 90 tonnes of steel has already been shipped to to Ruselprom.

NLMK has plenty of experience where icebreakers are concerned. The company recently supplied grain oriented steel to make similar equipment for the Siber (Siberia) another nuclear-powered icebreaker.

Ruselprom, in conjunction with Krylov State Research Centre, supplies electric machinery for the construction of all Russian icebreakers. In the past these vessels were equipped predominantly with imported electrical systems.

All this is good news for Ilya Gushchin, NLMK Group’s vice president (sales). He said that Ruselprom and NLMK shared a long history of ‘successful co-operation’ spanning two decades. “Our partners use NLMK’s electrical steel to make equipment for nuclear power stations, hydroelectric engineering and shipbuilding,” he said.