The Hindu Business Line : SAIL board okays plan to upgrade RSP facilities

The projects sanctioned during the meeting are in addition to the capital schemes valued at over Rs 3,500 crore that are currently under various stages of implementation.

The projects form part of RSP's growth plan that envisages enhancing hot metal capacity to around 23 million tonnes by 2011-12.

According to an official release, SAIL has decided to rebuild RSP's Coke Oven Battery-4 at an estimated cost of Rs 195 crore in order to meet environmental norms while implementing its massive growth plan.

Revamping of the coke oven battery will help RSP meet its higher requirement of coke for enhanced hot metal production in the coming years.

Another proposal to invest Rs 116 crore for installing a coal dust injection (CDI) system at RSP is part of SAIL's decision to install alternative fuel technologies in all its 20 blast furnaces, in view of the uncertainty being faced by the steel industry globally with respect to coking coal.

CDI technology has already been introduced in four of Bhilai Steel Plant's seven blast furnaces and two of Bokaro Steel Plant's five blast furnaces.

Meanwhile, the upgraded Electric Resistance Weld (ERW) Pipe Plant of RSP was formally inaugurated by Mr V.S. Jain, Chairman of SAIL, who was in Rourkela to attend the meeting.

Carried out at a cost of approximately Rs 89 crore, the upgradation jobs included installation of new coil saddles and a coil car, replacement of the uncoiler and leveller, and addition of new strip end welder and new edge milling machine.

The upgradation of the ERW Pipe Plant is a futuristic project to cater to the high-end API grade pipes market.

With a number of gas and power projects coming up in the country, the modernised plant is likely to increase RSP's market share and enhance its profitability in the coming days.

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