Construction Begins on Fifth Blast Furnace at SAIL's Rourkela Steel Mill

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--The Rourkela steel mill is beginning the addition of a fifth blast furnace with an investment of $150 million. This is a part of Steel Authority of India Limited's (BSE:500113) (SAIL) (New Delhi) $3.9 billion investment in the expansion of its existing plants for 2011-12. With this expansion, the production capacity of the Rourkela steel mill will increase from 2 million to 4.5 million tons per year.

After the expansion, the plant will become the fourth-largest integrated steel mill in India. The plan was laid out in 2008, but the project could not move forward due to environmental and statutory clearances. The project is is in the initial stages, and completion is slated for December 2011, said a source privy to the developments.

Established in 1961, the Rourkela steel mill is the first integrated steel mill in India. It also is SAIL's first and only plant where 100% of slabs are produced through the cost-effective and quality-centric continuous casting route. Rourkela steel mill is the sole producer of silicon steels and pipes for use in the power and oil & gas sectors. Its wide and sophisticated product range includes various flat, tubular and coated products.

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