Mr. Tarun Misra, Executive Director (HR), graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Mr. B. R. Palai, Executive Director (Works), and Mr. M. P. Singh, Executive Director (Mines), were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the newly inducted trainees, Mr. Tarun Mishra welcomed them to RSP and highlighted the plant’s township and work environment. He stated that Rourkela Steel Plant has one of the best townships and is among the best places to work.

Mr. B. R. Palai, Executive Director (Works), emphasised the importance of adopting a multiskilling work culture and urged them to focus on their career roadmap and work systematically towards achieving their professional goals.

Mr. M. P. Singh, Executive Director (Mines),  encouraged the trainees to make the most of the learning and professional opportunities available within the organisation.

The programme provided the trainees with an overview of the organisation, its work culture and the opportunities available for professional growth at SAIL, RSP. It is worth mentioning that the central induction of all the Management Trainees (Technical) joining SAIL was carried out at   Bhilai Steel Plant. Thereafter, the trainees have been posted to different units for local induction.

The distribution was carried out under the project “Waste to Wealth: Sustainable and Innovative Organic Farming Techniques especially for Women Farmers of the Peripheral Areas of RSP.” The beneficiaries were provided the materials to enable them to start vermicompost preparation and make productive use of organic waste in their own farms.

The initiative seeks to encourage the adoption of organic farming practices and promote the conversion of biodegradable waste into nutrient-rich manure. Besides supporting environment-friendly agriculture, vermicomposting can help farmers reduce their dependence on external inputs and improve the availability of organic manure for cultivation.

Notably, an MoU was signed between SAIL-RSP and NIT Rourkela on 8th October 2025 for a period of three years for implementation of the project. The project covers training and demonstration for 600 local farmers from four revenue blocks — Lathikata, Nuagaon, Bisra and Kuarmunda — on organic farming techniques, with special emphasis on women farmers. The project also envisages demonstration of techniques such as vermicomposting, preparation and use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides, and seed treatment, through a third party. Free synthetic bags for vermicompost preparation are to be distributed to each trained farmer.

The programme was inaugurated by Mr. B.R. Palai, ED(W), RSP. Also present on the occasion were Mr. R. Dasgupta, CGM, Finance, holding additional charge of ED, Finance; Mr. S. Chattopadhay, CGM, RDCIS, RSP Centre; and Mr. Sumit Kumar, CGM, BF, RSP.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Palai highlighted that the primary objective of the workshop was cost reduction and urged participants to come up with practical and implementable ideas that could bring measurable improvement in key techno-economic parameters. He emphasised the importance of translating technical discussions into actionable outcomes that would contribute to the plant’s overall performance.

The workshop focused on strengthening iron-making practices and improving Blast Furnace performance through structured sessions on productivity enhancement, cost optimization and operational discipline. The sessions were designed to encourage practical exchanges among plant personnel and to generate actionable ideas for improving process efficiency and product quality.

Technical sessions began with discussions on iron-making fundamentals and BF operation, during which experts explained the key process parameters influencing hot metal quality and furnace efficiency.

Throughout the day, technical presentations covered methods for improving plant performance, identifying bottlenecks and implementing cost-effective measures in day-to-day operations.

In the afternoon, the participants engaged in syndicate preparation, where they were divided into groups to deliberate on specific performance issues and suggest practical interventions. Each syndicate later presented its recommendations in the final session, outlining measures to improve productivity, reduce hot metal silicon and optimise operational costs.

The PIW was recognised as an important initiative for reinforcing operational excellence and promoting a shared understanding of furnace performance management. The program was coordinated by Mr. BBK Behera, DGM, BF along with Ms Jyoti Oreya, AGM, HR-L&D, Ms. Jyotirmayee Routia, Sr. Manager, HR-L&D.

Speaking on the occasion Ms. Kartha encouraged the spouses to support the retiring employees in navigating the changes of post-retirement life and have a smooth and positive transition.

A session on “Mindset for smooth Transition to a new phase of life after Retirement” was conducted by Mr. Babula Nahak, AGM (CP-2) while Mr. K K Verma, DGM (F&A) deliberated on various aspects of Financial Security Planning.  Mr. T B Toppo, DGM (Horticulture) shared tips on Post Retirement Engagement while Dr. S Kumar, Additional CMO (OHSC) spoke about ‘Ensuring good health, well-being and holistic approach for a meaningful Life.’

Mr. S P Majhi, Assistant Manager (HR) welcomed the gathering and also proposed a formal vote of thanks. The workshop was co-ordinated by Mr. S K Nayak, Deputy Manager (HR) under the guidance of Mr. Avinash, AGM (HR) with the support of and HR- ER&C team.  It is noteworthy that the workshop is being held at regular intervals covering the spouses of the -to-be-retired employees.

NPM also registered its best first-quarter (Q1) performance for FY 2026–27 in both production and dispatch. Compared to the corresponding period last year (CPLY), production grew by 11.55% while dispatch increased by 5.29%.

Congratulating Team NPM, Mr. Alok Verma, Director In-Charge (RSP) has appreciated the outstanding achievement of the team, leadership and all supporting departments and commended their collective effort. He added that, at this critical juncture for Rourkela Steel Plant, performance must be raised further so that the plant can emerge stronger.

The achievement reflects coordinated efforts across operations, maintenance, quality, logistics and other supporting departments, and underscores NPM’s commitment to operational excellence and timely delivery to customers.

Finished-steel facilities delivered equally notable results. Both the Plate Mill and the New Plate Mill posted their best quarterly performances, and HR plate output from the Sheet Shearing Line of the Hot Strip Mill also achieved record quarterly production. The New Plate Mill produced 2,66,263 tonnes of plate in Q1, an 11.6% year-on-year growth,  while HR plate output from the Sheet Shearing Line rose by 14.9% to 82,514 tonnes, reflecting healthy growth in high-value product segments. Operational improvements helped maximize the road despatch coefficient, delivering a record June road despatch of 48,564 tonnes. RSP also achieved its highest April–June direct despatch figures of 8,27,871 tonnes, surpassing the previous best of 7,95,521 tonnes.

By prioritizing both road and direct despatch, RSP has also reinforced its focus on working capital optimization. High contributions from value-added segments such as Plate Mill and HR plate production have positively impacted the plant’s bottom line.

On the first day pulse polio was administered at different booths set up in the steel township. In IGH alone, 297 children were administered the polio vaccine. Subsequently the door to door campaign is going on in the township to ensure 100 percent vaccination of children in the age group 0 -5 years living in the township.

The department received this recognition in appreciation of its sustained commitment to organizational excellence through leadership coaching interventions, business appreciation programmes, cost optimization initiatives, customized MoUs, cyber security awareness, energy conservation, supervisory capability development, implementation of environmental management systems, fire control management, the Learn to Lead in All Situations programme, and continuous improvement in material handling practices.

The department also conducted customized safety training programmes for shunting operators and locomotive operators, enhancing their operational competence and reinforcing safe working practices.

The award reflects RSP’s unwavering commitment to developing competencies in industrial safety and operational excellence. Through a wide range of comprehensive learning and development initiatives, the T&RM Department has fostered a strong culture of safety, excellence, and preparedness across the plant. These sustained efforts have not only enhanced the knowledge and capabilities of employees but have also promoted safety awareness and best practices within the wider community.

Leveraging the Lab’s testing and development capabilities, RSP has commercialised ASTM A387 Class 2 (Grades 11 & 12) N&T plates up to 40 mm, higher-grade CRNO coils (50C400 & 50C470) at 0.50 mm, and demonstrated normalized rolling of E410BR plates up to 70 mm. The plant developed DMR 249A HR plates via the HSM route for the Indian Navy, SiK Grade-1 HR coils for stamping, IS 10748 Grade V high-strength HR coils for sharp bending, and low-carbon EDD steel via the RH route for downstream cold-rolling. RSP has also produced SAIL WR400 quenched plates meeting required hardness and mechanical properties, with warpage-control.

On process optimisation, RSP reduced ferro-alloy consumption through adjusted Manganese and ultra-low Niobium strategies in key grades. The plant secured IS 3039 (BIS) plus DNV and IRS certifications for shipbuilding steels and vendor approval from IOCL for API-grade coils up to X70 PSL2, opening high-value pipeline markets.

The department has carried out infrastructure upgrades like setting up of new Test House with 65 testing/sample-prep equipment items. The facilities to test Calcium Silicon and ferromanganese have been enhanced, while the converter-floor container-lab robotic system has been revived.

These advances demonstrate RSP’s commitment to innovation, cost-effective production and stringent quality standards.