SAIL signs agreement with CBMM arm for development of high strength steel

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) today took a bold stride towards its goal of increasing the share of special steel products in its product basket by signing a collaborative agreement with CBMM (Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao of Brazil) Technology Suisse SA, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The agreement, signed between Mr A.S. Mathur, Executive Director In-charge of SAIL’s Research & Development Centre for Iron & Steel (RDCIS), and Mr Marcos Stuart, Director (Technology), CBMM Technology Suisse SA, envisages development of high strength steel of API X-80 grade for line pipe application by SAIL at its steel plants in Bhilai and Bokaro.

Popular for its application in transportation of oil & natural gas, API grades of line pipe steel have a huge market in India with annual demand being estimated to be 1 million tonnes (MT) in the coming years. Demand for API X-80 grade steel with superior high strength qualities, is likely to increase sharply.

The agreement is a step towards realisation of SAIL Chairman Mr C.S. Verma’s vision of enhancing SAIL’s market share in the special steels segment. RDCIS has been working towards this goal in consonance with the five integrated steel plants of SAIL. Earlier, too, RDCIS had initiated and successfully completed collaborative programmes with CBMM for development of API X-60 & 70 grade steel plates and HR coils at Bhilai and Bokaro Steel Plants, respectively.

As per the agreement, which carries a tenure of two years, SAIL plans to develop high strength steel of API X-80 specification for line pipe and structural applications. The international demand for API grades of steel is projected at 8 MT per annum, generating a large untapped market for Indian steel producers. Production of API X-80 from SAIL plants is expected to commence within one year. With CBMM as its ally in this project, SAIL will be able to substantially reduce the development time of its new product, by roping in CBMM’s long-term expertise in the sector. CBMM is a major producer of niobium in the world and supports research collaborations with leading R&D organisations and institutes to promote usage of niobium for development of new products.

Among other senior veterans present on the SAIL-CBMM agreement signing ceremony were Dr Jitendra Patel from International Metallurgy, UK and representatives from Ferrotech India Ltd.