The ‘Operating Committee’ of the blast furnaces & sinter plants of 14 steel plants in the country commenced its two-day deliberations here Thursday by an exchange of notes in the two primary areas of iron-making, keeping in mind that a number of big blast furnaces were coming up in the country.
The sinter plant & blast furnace route is a must for any kind of primary iron-making anywhere in the world.
Operating Committee secretary SK Ojha, at the inaugural session of the two-day meet of the 51st Operating Committee of blast furnaces & sinter plants in the country, said though the new big blast furnaces were expected to incorporate the latest technology, ‘their successful operation would lie solely in the hands of our own people.’
Ojha, who is also deputy general manager (blast furnace) at RDCIS, SAIL, said the blast furnace & sinter plant fraternity would need to work closely for the new technologies to be a success.
Tata Steel is busy erecting its biggest ‘H’ blast furnace of 2.5 million tonne per annum capacity, while SAIL’s ISP Burnpur, Rourkela and Bhilai plants are on their way to having blast furnaces of around 2.7 mt capacity. JSW Steel is poised to become the first to have a 3 mt blast furnace in the country.
Nippon Steel Corp’s Oita works is said to be having the world’s biggest blast furnace of 5.5 mt capacity.
The two-day meet will include a discussion on the effects of higher injection in blast furnaces and the ways and means of improving blast furnace performance and the quality of raw material.
Ojha said that the forum would also share experiences of members in the advanced technological facilities being introduced in blast furnaces in the country, such as the use of copper staves with close circuit water cooling, constant heat flux monitoring and other types of probes.
According to UK Chaturvedi, vice-president (long products), Tata Steel, opportunities for the Indian steelmaking industry in the next 10-15 years is ‘huge’ as the per capita annual consumption of steel in the country, currently pegged at 35-36 kg, will move on to catch up with the world average of 130 kg.
Chaturvedi, who addressed the meet as chief guest, said the ‘huge’ opportunities for blast furnaces & sinter plants will come with challenges and strings attached. The good quality iron ore available is also high in alumina, while Indian coal is high in ash.
“We need to look at how we develop our capabilities and processes to ensure that we keep our plants alive and protect the environment while meeting our objectives,” said the Tata Steel vice-president (long products).