Coal Gasification Method Will Help Odisha Become A Steel Hub: Union Steel Minister

Angul: Union Minister for Steel Chaudhary Birender Singh on Saturday said that the innovative  coal gasification process created by Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) for making steel for the first time in the world will help Odisha becoming a steel hub in the days to come.

Singh was addressing a gathering on the dedication ceremony of four-core steel manufacturing marvels at India’s Most Modern 6 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant of JSPL at Angul. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan was also present.

Manufacturing units –  4554 m3 Blast Furnace (BF), 3 MTPA Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF), Syngas-based 2 MTPA DRI Plant and Coal Gasification Plant (CGP) for Steel making based on Swadeshi Coal- were dedicated to the nation in the presence of Chairperson Emeritus, OP Jindal Group, Savitri Jindal, and JSPL Chairman Naveen Jindal.

Singh further said about 80 per cent of coking coal worth Rs 20,000 crore is imported by India.

“We remain dependent on imports (for coking coal) but Naveen (Jindal) has come out with a plan which can make us reduce this dependence,” he said.

The new technology of making steel by coal gasification helps in producing the metal using domestic coal, he added.

Inaugurating the key steel manufacturing facilities Dharmendra said, ”The steel industry is going to be a major contributor in employment generation in coming days. JSPL ‘s adoption of coal gassification as the technology for steel making is a path breaking initiative ” he added.

On the occasion, Naveen Jindal said, “This is for the first time that any company in India is using coal gasification method to make steel. We are hopeful that after one year we will be able to run the Angul plant in full capacity.”

Other key facilities at the Integrated Steel Plant spreading over 3500 acres include 1.5 MTPA Rebar Mill, 1.2 MTPA Plate Mill, 2.3 MTPA Billet Caster, 1.7 MTPA Slab Caster, 2.75 MTPA New Electric Oxygen Furnace (NEOF) and 810 MW Captive Power Plant.