Sails Durgapur Plant Enhances Production

The Steel Authority of India Ltds Durgapur Steel Plant, which recently completed a Rs 4,500 crore modernisation programme, has achieved around 75 per cent of the post modernisation rated capacity during the first seven months of the current financial year 1997-98.

The production of crude steel during the first seven months stood at 7,67,300 tonne while the production of saleable steel during the same period stood at 7,76,900 tonne.

During a visit to Durgapur last week, SAIL chairman Arvind Pande said, the plant would have to achieve 100 per cent fulfilment of rated capacity within a specified time frame as a higher volume of production would substantially enhance the positive gross margin of Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP). DSP is currently carrying a heavy interest and depreciation burden as a result of the modernisation expenditure.

According to a press release, the DSP top brass has committed that production would be at the rated capacity levels from the middle of December. Recently, the plant has undertaken some major steps in certain units to bolster production. In the basic oxygen furnace shop, the introduction of nitrogen splashing has enhanced the life of converters from around 650 to over 1000 heats. The 1000 heats mark has been crossed for the first time in any SAIL plant. Apart from allowing for higher production, the annual savings on refractories would be around Rs 16 crore.

During the first half of the current fiscal, DSP has completed systematic repairs of coke battery oven no. 1A and category III repairs of modernised blast furnace no. 2. At present, the flux crushing and material conveying systems in the raw material handling complex are being modified to enhance functional efficiency.

Chairman awarded Arvind Pande, chairman of SAIL, was awarded the Outstanding Chief Executive Award at the inaugural session of the 39th national convention of the Indian Institute of Industrial Engineering held at Durgapur early this week. Pande noted that the navaratna companies had the freedom to take major policy decisions that would help in the organisations becoming more powerful. The change process has begun and it would be possible to get out of the present difficult period within a year, he added.