Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has embarked on a pioneering industrial trial at its Durgapur Steel Plant, marking a significant advancement in the Indian steel industry. This innovative initiative, taking place in Sinter Plant No. 2, involves utilizing bamboo biochar as a partial replacement for coke breeze, a fossil fuel traditionally used in the sintering process. The trial aims to reduce fossil fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions during steel production, following extensive laboratory and pilot-scale testing at SAIL’s R&D Centre in Ranchi. The planned trial, set to last 4-5 days and conducted in two phases, has the potential to replace 10-20% of coke breeze with bamboo biochar, which could lead to a notable reduction of 15-20% in CO2 emissions per ton of crude steel produced.
This initiative underscores SAIL’s commitment to a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach in steel manufacturing, aligning with both national and corporate carbon emission reduction targets. By demonstrating the viability of bamboo biochar as an alternative fuel, this trial not only highlights SAIL’s role in the global effort to mitigate the steel industry’s environmental impact but also serves as a potential model for the wider adoption of greener solutions in steelmaking.
