Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Steel Authority of India Ltd.’s (SAIL) modernized and expanded Bhilai Steel Plant to the nation on Thursday at Bhilai in a magnificent function attended by a huge gathering of citizens and dignitaries.
With this historic dedication to the nation, SAIL completed its modernization and expansion programme (MODEX) which enhances the steel making capacity of the Company to 21 MTPA.
This momentous occasion was witnessed by Union Minister for Steel, Chaudhary Birender Singh, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh, Union Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Minister of State for Telecommunications, I/c, Manoj Sinha and several other dignitaries.
Before dedicating the new plant to the nation, Modi also visited Bhilai Steel Plant where he witnessed the new and expanded steelmaking facilities. During the Plant visit, Secretary Steel Dr. Aruna Sharma, Officer on Special Duty, Steel, Binoy Kumar, Chairman SAIL, PK Singh and CEO, Bhilai Steel Plant, M Ravi were also present.
Addressing the gathering Modi said that, “Before coming here today, I went to Bhilai Steel Plant, which has been equipped with more modern technology and capacity with the expenditure of Rs 18000 crores.
It is my good fortune that today I have the opportunity to inaugurate this modernized and expanded steel plant. Very few people know that most of the rail tracks have been built after the independence, which connects the nation from Kuchh to Cuttack and from Kargil to Kanyakumari. These tracks are being produced from the offerings of sweat of yours. Definitely, Bhilai has not only made steel, also built the lives, decorated the society and made the country too. We will also work to strengthen the foundation of New India as steel. In Bhilai and Durg, you have personally experienced that after setting up a steel plant, the picture changed there. Mining of steel sector and iron ore has played a big role in speeding up the progress of Chhattisgarh.”
Modernized and expanded with an investment of more than Rs. 18,800 Crore, Bhilai Steel Plant would now have an enhanced hot metal production capacity of 7.5 MTPA from earlier 4.7 MTPA, which will be the highest among all steel plants of SAIL. The new Blast Furnace no 8 – Mahamaya – alone has a capacity to produce 2.8 MTPA. The new Steel Melting Shop no. 3 will increase the crude steel capacity to 7 MTPA from earlier 3.9 MTPA and the new Bar and Rod Mill will double the capacity to 2 MTPA. Apart from this, SAIL-BSP’s new Universal Rail Mill has enhanced total rail production capacity of SAIL to 2 MTPA.
This new plant installed with cutting edge technology after MODEX will ensure improved productivity, yield quality, cost competitiveness, energy efficiency and environmental protection. The modernization and expansion of BSP will further enhance performance and introduce new products required for today’s world like – Head hardened rails meant for metro and dedicated freight corridor.
Union Minister Birender Singh said, “the modernized steel plant of Bhilai will not only augment the steel production of SAIL but will also mark the completion of SAIL’s modernization.”
He added that this expansion will also contribute towards moving closer to the 300 MTPA vision of National Steel Policy. Further congratulating SAIL BSP he added that the 130 metre single piece rails produced at this plant are longest in the world.
Speaking on the occasion, Raman Singh said that “The blast furnaces of Bhilai Steel Plant have relentlessly worked for six decades and the hard work of people is commendable.”
SAIL, with its enhanced capacity and world-class new range of products, is all prepared to meet the growing steel requirement of the country. The new product range, designed according to the present market requirements will cater to every sector and the new marketing policy of the Company will reach to a larger customer base.
