‘Produce steel according to market needs, be sensitive to customers’

Steel Secretary Dr Aruna Sharma arrived on her maiden visit to SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant on Tuesday. She was accompanied by Sunil Barthwal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Steel, SAIL Chairman P K Singh, Director (Projects) G Vishwakarma and Director (Technical) SAIL Raman.

Addressing senior officers of SAIL & BSP during her visit, Dr Sharma appreciated Bhilai Steel Plant for its achievements and stated that the tough times through which the steel industry is passing adds greater responsibility for Bhilai Steel Plant. She said that we have to equip ourselves in line with the changed circumstances. Expectations from the Plant is even greater now, given Bhilai’s rich legacy, she said adding that it is essential that we produce according to market requirement as part of a well-thought strategy. We have to pay special attention to quality and be sensitive to the requirements of customers and at the same time to be alert, Secretary (Steel) emphasized.

During her Plant visit, Sharma witnessed production processes in Blast Furnace No 7, Steel Melting Shop 2, Plate Mill and Rail & Structural Mill (RSM). She evinced keen interest in production of hot metal and crude steel at BF 7 and SMS 2, respectively, rolling operations of plates at Plate Mill and rails at RSM. She also visited the Long Rail Complex in RSM. The Plant’s Modernisation & Expansion (Modex) will enhance the Plant’s capacity to 7 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) and  enhance the market presence  of SAIL with new and superior grades of products on completion of the projects.

She reviewed progress of the 1.2-mtpa Universal Rail Mill which is in an advanced stage of completion and the 2.8 MTPA Blast Furnace No 8 which is nearing completion. Blast Furnace 8 would meet the enhanced requirement of hot metal. She also visited the state of the art Rail Welding Line for long rails. She reviewed the  the action plans of ongoing projects and gave necessary instructions for speedy completion of the remaining  projects. Later, she also reviewed the performance of Bhilai Steel Plant and status of Modex projects at Ispat Bhavan.

Earlier, on her arrival at Raipur Airport in the morning, Sharma was welcomed by Bhilai Steel Plant Chief Executive Officer M Ravi and senior officers of the Plant. At Bhilai Niwas, she was given a Guard of Honour by CISF.