core sector communique

Steel Minister Reviews Sail’s Performance

The Minister for Steel, Shri Beni Prasad Verma, reviewed the Annual Performance of SAIL for the year 2011-12 here today. The Minister expressed concern over the performance of the company which is not upto the mark and needs improvement. He noted that the health of the Coke Oven Batteries is affecting the overall performance of the company and advised SAIL to carry out various scheduled repairs/replacement of the batteries within the specified timeframe. The Minister further advised SAIL to draw stricter time-lines for expeditious completion of ongoing expansion projects. SAIL recorded a turnover of over Rs. 50,000 crore in 2011-12. During 2011-2012 capital expenditure of more than Rs. 11,000 crore was made by the company. Major facilities completed during 2011-2012 include new Turbo Blower and Re-building of Coke Oven Battery No.1 & 2 at Bokaro Steel Plant, coil preparation line of Cold Rolling Mill -3, Re-building of Coke Oven Battery No.6 at Bhilai Steel Plant and New Ladle Furnace at Alloy Steel Plant, Durgapur. At RSP, trials for Ore Bedding & Blending Plant and Sinter Plant-3 have been completed successfully. At ISP, Burnpur, chimney heating of 7 metre tall new Coke Oven Battery and testing for new Wire Rod Mill were conducted successfully. Two new blast furnaces, with combined capacity of 5.4 million tonnes are scheduled to become operational during 2012-13. Other highlights in 2011-2012 include - • SAIL’s subsidiary MEL merged with SAIL in July, 2011 and renamed as Chandrapur Ferro Alloy Plant. • SAIL Refractory Company Ltd. has been incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of SAIL, with transfer of Refractory Unit of M/s Burn Standard Company Ltd. (BSCL) at Salem to the subsidiary company. • A Rural dealership scheme was introduced in August, 2011 to encourage use of steel in rural areas. Under the scheme 476 new rural dealers have been appointed in 2011-12. • R&D Master Plan of SAIL has been launched and is under implementation. • CCEA has approved revival of Sindri Unit by a consortium of SAIL and NFL in August, 2011. The Steel Minister also released a book by SAIL titled, ‘Steel cities’.