Salem Steel forges new production record

Salem Steel Plant (SSP), a Steel Authority of India Ltd undertaking, has produced 1.72 lakh tonnes of saleable steel during the nine-month period from April-December 2007. This output surpasses SSP's previous best saleable production of 1.46 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of 2006.

The output includes 1.29 lakh tonnes of carbon steel, representing 31 per cent growth over the comparable figures of the previous year.

SSP achieved capacity utilisation rate of 131 per cent for saleable steel production during the period, bettering the 111 per cent achieved in the previous year.

During the first three quarters of 2007-08, SSP's hot rolling mill produced 1.58 lakh tonnes of carbon and stainless steel, compared to 1.56 lakh tonnes a year earlier. This includes 29 per cent growth to touch 1.30 lakh tonnes of carbon steel from 1.01 lakh tonnes produced during the previous year.

Capacity utilisation at the hot rolling mill increased to 113 per cent from the 112 per cent a year earlier.