A state-of-the-art new plate mill would come up as part of the modernisation programme, besides other facilities like a new blast furnace complex which would be among the biggest in the country, raw material handling plant, new sinter plant no.3, 7-metre tall coke oven battery, strand slab caster in SMS-2, G S Prasad, CEO, RSP told PTI.
The new mill will produce plates of 4.3 metres width and shall have advanced computerised control system to produce high strength TMCP (thermo mechanical controlled process) rolled plates including plates for pipe grade upto APILX 100 at lower cost.
It would also have the facility to roll HSLA (high strength low alloy) and micro alloy structurals which would help SAIL strengthen its presence in the plates market in the country.
He said that RSP was also carrying out some modifications and upgradation in its special plate plant which would help it in increasing the supply of tailor-made plates to the defence sector as well as for special purpose applications.
At present SAIL has over 40 per cent market share in the plates market. Besides RSP, Bhilai and Bokaro steel plants of SAIL also produce plates.
Prasad said that the massive Rs 12,000-crore update programme, which would take RSP's hot metal production capacity to 4.5 million tonne, from the existing 2 m.T., would be over shortly and most of the units would be commissioned in the current fiscal.
The plant would be reaping benefits of modernisation in the next financial year, he said. MORE
