First In India: Tata Steel Conducts Biomass Usage Trial At Odisha’s Athagarh Ferrochrome Plant

Bhubaneswar: Tata Steel successfully conducted the trial of biomass usage in ferrochrome making at its Athagarh Ferrochrome Plant in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Saturday.

The plant, which operates under the company’s Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division (FAMD), has thus become the first in India to have performed the trial run as part of its sustainable alternative to traditional carbon sources.

The trial involved substitution of conventional fossil fuels with biomass, a renewable energy source derived from organic materials, to mark a significant step towards sustainable ferrochrome production and reducing carbon footprint.

It is expected to lower CO2 emission by 0.08/t of Ferrochrome (@5% use of biomass), which is around 6% of total CO2 emission from Ferrochrome plant.

“This trial is part of our commitments towards sustainability and our relentless pursuit of reducing our carbon emissions. By leveraging biomass, we aim to create a cleaner, more sustainable production process, contributing to a greener future,” said Pankaj Satija, Executive-In-charge, FAMD, Tata Steel.

The process will help replace conventional reductants with carbon-neutral biomass, which is made by low temperature burning of wood in oxygen-starved atmosphere. The carbon released during the burning of charcoal in the Submerged Arc Furnace (SAF) will be balanced by the carbon absorbed by the trees from which it is made.

“The transition to biomass is an important milestone in our sustainability journey. We will continue to explore and implement innovative solutions that drive environmental performance and operational excellence,” said Satija.