The operationalisation of the unit to produce 3.708 MT sinter per annum took place in presence of SAIL Chairman C S Verma who reviewed the progress of the modernisation projects at Bhilai Steel Plant today.
Verma reviewed the "modernisation & expansion work at the Maharatna company's flagship unit that would enhance the Plant's production levels to 7.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of Hot Metal from the current level of 5 MTPA with an investment of over Rs 17,265 crore," a SAIL statement said.
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This is part of the total outlay of Rs 72,000 crore for expansion of SAIL's hot metal capacity from 14.23 MTPA to 23.46 MTPA.
The new facilities coming up at Bhilai include a new blast furnace, sinter machine, a coke oven battery, steel melting shop, universal rail mill and a bar and rod mill.
"These new facilities will not only increase the production capacity but would also improve product quality, introduce new products, reduce cost of production and make the plant more environmental friendly," the statement said.
The expansion of SAIL-BSP is now in an accelerated mode with the operationalisation of the new sinter machine that has been installed at a cost of over Rs 730 crore, it said.
It added that the new eco-friendly sinter machine will meet the requirement of sinter for new blast furnace as well as the existing furnace.
A sinter is a small, irregular nodule of iron mixed with small amounts of other minerals and is used for converting iron into steel.
The statement said that next in line for commissioning at SAIL-Bhilai is the new Coke Oven Battery and a Blast Furnace.
The statement said the Chairman also reviewed the project for the new 1.2 MTPA Universal Rail Mill that has also made rapid progress.
The Mill has been designed to produce world class rails by universal rolling method and would enable SAIL to roll out single piece rails of 130m, the longest in the world.
The new Rail Welding plant will enable production of 260 metres long welded rail panels with a future provision of 520 metres long panels.
It said BSP is gearing up to meet all the future requirement of Indian Railway's, including head-hardened rails.
Verma also visited the site for the upcoming 0.9 MTPA Bar & Rod Mill which would produce high quality bars and rods besides reviewing the progress of new Steel Melting Shops and Oxygen plant.
He stressed that the "greatest challenge before the Bhilai collective today is to complete the balance modernisation work expeditiously and commission & stabilise the new facilities at the earliest.