The new units of SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) posted impressive performance in the first 7 months of FY 2024-25. The state-of-the-art Hot Strip Mill-2 (HSM-2) produced 12,65,989 tons of HR Coils to achieve the best ever April-October performance surpassing its earlier best figure of 12,45,850 tons achieved in the corresponding period last year (CPLY). Similarly, the New Plate Mill rolled 5,43,174 tons of plates in the mentioned period to clock its best first seven months figure and improving upon its earlier best of 5,35,101 tons achieved in 2021. By producing 17,80,457 tons of Hot metal in April-October, 2024 the Blast Furnace-5 Durga has recorded a 6.8% increase over the CPLY. The Steel Melting Shop-II (SMS-2) also tapped 21,13,432 tons Crude Steel to clock its best April-October performance.
The first seven month also witnessed RSP surpassing many important milestones and registering records in different individual areas. The highest ever long sequence of 380 heats was achieved in Caster#3 of SMS#2 surpassing the previous best of 349 heats. The Blast Furnace-1 made 3625 tons of Hot Metal on 25th October, 2024 to register its best single day production.
RSP has been strategically optimizing its facilities prioritizing reduction of production cost. In line with it, while two furnaces have been kept operational with the target of achieving the production levels with lower costs, the latest decision to switch to single strand operation of Sinter Plant-1 from 22nd Oct’24 will help the plant accrue huge cost saving of Rs. 7 crore per month. In its continuous efforts to gain access to the niche market, RSP also enriched its product basket by developing ERW pipes of 4 mm wall thickness in 14 inches Outer Diameter segment.
