Steel Authority of India (SAIL) claims that its hot metal capacity will go up to 19Mt by end-September 2014 following start-up of the company’s new blast furnace at its Burnpur steel plant. Current capacity is 14Mt/yr.
The new blast furnace will be commissioned in August, according to SAIL chairman CS Verma. According to Mr Verma, first heat from the new converter at SAIL’s Rourkela steel plant will occur on 10 May.
As part of its Vision 2025, SAIL is planning and investing with a view to ramping up steel production from 24Mt to 50Mt.
India’s largest blast furnace is in operation at SAIL's Rourkela facility and has a volume of 4,060 cubic meters.
SAIL has also recently announced a 14% year-onyear rise in sales.
