Tata Steel flags off HR steel export rake to Nepal

Barely three weeks after Tata Steel exported Tata Ferroshots (granulated pig iron) from its Kalinganagar plant in Odisha, the steel maker today flagged off its first consignment of hot rolled steel export rake to Nepal.

The hot rolled (HR) coils are being exported through Raxaul border to customers in Nepal. In the first export consignment, around 3,000 tonnes of HR coils are being exported to key customers in that country.

The export consignment was flagged off by T V Narendran, managing director (India & South East Asia) in the presence of Rajiv Kumar, vice president (operations) at Tata Steel's Kalinganagar plant.

Tata Steel has set an ambitious export target from its Kalinganagar plant to cater to various segments in geographies. The products from Kalinganagar have been very well received in the market and the ramp up is on schedule both in terms of quantity and quality, the company said in a statement.

Tata Steel is setting up a six million tonne greenfield steel plant at Kalinganagar. The first phase of three million tonne capacity has been commissioned at an investment of around Rs 25,000 crore. The plant has also started commercial production since May this year.

Last month, Tata Steel initiated the exports of 'Tata Ferroshots' to a South East Asian country. Within a few months of its launch, this innovative product has garnered a lot of interest from the steel industry, which has traditionally used pig iron, sponge iron and scrap. After its encouraging acceptance in the domestic market, the product is set to make its foray into the International arena. Tata Ferroshots is granulated pig iron solidified by cooling in water.

The end use of Tata Ferroshots includes electric arc furnaces, induction furnaces, cupolas, basic oxygen furnaces and foundries as a replacement of pig iron, scrap or DRI. Its inherent properties lead to better yield, higher productivity and lower energy cost. Besides, the process of manufacturing is safe and environment-friendly.