Tata Steel on Friday announced that it would expand Odisha’s Kalinganagar crude steel capacity from 3 MTPA to 8 MTPA with an investment of Rs 27,000 crore, in an exchange release.
With the investment, Kalinganagar becomes the company’s largest investment investment in India. The new blast furnace will boost the plant’s overall production capabilities. It will cater to the demands of industries including automotive, infrastructure, power, shipbuilding, and defence. It will also provide advantages in specific areas like oil & gas, lifting & excavation, and construction.
The new blast furnace will have a volume of 5,870 m3, and is equipped for long campaign life and an eco-friendly design to optimise the steelmaking process. It will utilise four top combustion stoves, a first in India, along with two preheating stoves for optimum specific fuel consumption in hot metal production.With the Phase II expansion, Odisha has emerged as the largest investment destination in India for Tata Steel, with a total cumulated investment of over Rs 100,000 crore in the last 10 years, said the release.
The new facility was inaugurated by TV Narendran, CEO and Managing Director, Tata Steel, in the presence of senior leaders of the Company.
“The commissioning of India’s largest blast furnace at Kalinganagar is a momentous occasion for the steel industry, setting new benchmarks in capacity, technology, and sustainability. A key enabler of socio-economic development in the region, the expansion not only strengthens Tata Steel’s position as a leader in high-end, value-added steel segments but also showcases our advanced engineering prowess,” said Narendran.In a first for Tata Steel, a dry gas cleaning plant has been installed to maximise energy recovery from by-product gas.
The world’s largest Top Gas Recovery Turbine (TRT) of 35 MW power generation capacity will help with the recovery of an additional 10 per cent of energy. An evaporative cooling system has been used for the first time in an Indian blast furnace, optimising space footprint while lowering specific water and power consumption by approximately 20 per cent compared to conventional designs.
The blast furnace will also have a zero-process water discharge plan with rainwater harvesting, informed the release.”It underscores our commitment to boosting private investment in India, aligning with the nation’s vision for self-reliance and sustainable industrial growth. On behalf of Tata Steel, I thank the Government of Odisha for their unwavering support and applaud the collective efforts of our employees, suppliers & vendor partners, and all other stakeholders in enabling this significant milestone,” added Narendran.
Key facilities in Phase II expansion at the plant also include a pellet plant, coke plant, and cold rolling mill, each incorporating advanced technologies and sustainable practices.
