Ovako and NCC Roads in long-term agreement for sustainable roads
Ovako in Smedjebacken and NCC Roads have signed a 10-year contract for the supply of steel slag. The by-product is used as aggregate in asphalt, providing more stable and quieter roads that require less re-laying.
"We have worked extensively to identify applications where our residual products generate added value. It is therefore gratifying that NCC Roads regards our steel slag as an important component in building sustainable roads," says Torbjörn Sörhuus, Quality & Environment Manager at Ovako Bar SmeBox.
The agreement starts on October 1, and runs for 10 years. During the first three years, NCC Roads will purchase Ovako's annual steel slag production in Smedjebacken (approx. 50,000 tonnes/year). Over the remaining seven years, NCC will purchase approximately 85,000 tonnes/year, which also includes slag that is currently stockpiled.
Steel slag is used as aggregate in asphalt production. Slag asphalt is superior to ordinary asphalt in applications with very high loads and tyre rotation, such as at roundabouts and for industrial surfaces. It also contributes to noise reduction. The use of steel slag contributes to improved utilisation of quarried resources, reduced mining and crushing of new aggregate, reduced emissions and the need for less re-laying. This means less severe, and less frequent, disruption to traffic as well as lower costs.