SAIL, RNRL may ink pact with Corus

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd are exploring technological tie-ups for their combined Rs 62,000 modernisation and expansion programme.

The steel delegation now touring London and Luxembourg led by Union steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan held discussions on a possible technological tie-up.

S K Roongta, chairman SAIL and Y S Sagar Rao, chairman and managing director RINL are also part of the delegation.

The delegation visited Ijmuiden plant of Corus Steel, supposed to be one of the best in the world with a blast furnace productivity.

According to sources close to development, discussions on tie-up were held with Corus Consultancy and Danieli Corus. At present, the delegation is in Luxembourg.

The main objective of the delegation was to get a glimpse of the best practices in global steel making technology. The delegation also met the chairman of Arcelor-Mittal, Joseph Kinsch, and chief executive officer Roland Juncke.

The CEO of Arcelor-Mittal explained the post merger activity of the corporate entity and the steps taken to strengthen the steel major further.

The delegation was taken to ProfilARBED, the group's long products factory. The steel captains also visited the facilities of PaulWurth, a major technology supplier to the steel industry globally.

Jatinder Mehra, managing director, Essar Steel, T Mukherjee, deputy managing director (steel) Tata Steel were part of the delegation.