SAIL commissions two major facilities in Bhilai plant as part of expansion

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the state-owned steel maker, on Saturday commissioned two facilities in its Bhilai plant as part of an ongoing expansion and modernisation programme.

The two units, a sinter machine and a coke oven battery, have been built with an investment of around Rs 2,000 crore.

"The setting up of the two facilities forms a part of the Rs 17,265 crore capex being deployed in the company's flagship plant for raising its hot metal capacity to 7.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa)," SAIL said in a statement.

The 7-meter tall coke oven battery will enhance the plant's coke making capacity by 0.88 mtpa. The entire complex comprising of a coke oven battery, coke dry cooling plant and the by-product plant has been installed with an investment of Rs 1,213.11 crore.

"The new 360 sq meter sinter machine installed at a cost of Rs 730 crore will produce 3.708 mt sinter per annum," the state-run steel maker said.

Commissioning the two units, Steel Secretary Rakesh Singh said the two projects, as the key upstream units, shall meet the increased raw material requirement of the plant after the ongoing modernisation.

SAIL chairman CS Verma said commissioning of new facilities at Bhilai would be an opportunity for the plant to further fortify its position in the steel industry.

Bhilai has won the prestigious Prime Minister's Trophy for best integrated steel plant in the country for a record 11 out of total 21 times.