Daily Pioneer reported that by the end of March 2013 the automobile manufactures of the country need not to look to foreign countries for the top quality of steel. Countries largest steel manufacturer of public sector the Steel Authority of India Limited is setting up a 1.2 million tonne per annum plant at Bokaro that would meet the requirement to some extent.
Addressing a Press conference on Friday, Mr Sridhar Varadrajan, executive director RDCIS said that the plant dedicated to produce automobile grade steel would make country less dependent on imports. The official said that “The Bokaro plant would be first of this kind in the country. The plant would start working by March 2013 with its 1.2 million tonne per annum capacity. We are expecting that the initiative would make us less dependent on import within 3 to 4 years time.”
Presently, the auto manufacturers are heavily dependent on foreign countries for the steel thus making the business costlier for them. Mr Varadrajan also expressed concern about declining market share of SAIL in Indian market which is hovering around 25%
The official added that “We are working hard to raise the market share up to 30%. SAIL is losing out to new players thus we have planned to come up with 5 to 6 new rolling mills at Bhilai, Bokaro, ISSCO and Raipur plants.”
The RDCIS, for meeting the challenges in more competent manner, is going to organise an international conference on rolling and finishing technology of Steel between October 4 and 6 with the support of Centre for Engineering and Technology, SAIL and Mecon Limited.
Theme of the conference has been chosen as “Challenges & Opportunities in Rolling Mills” in which eminent technologists concerning the field have been invited to participate. About 350 delegates including around 200 outstation delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate in the conference.
Mr Varadarajan said that “Sharing of information and knowledge would be an immense help in finding out new technology and ideas in the field of rolling mills. We are facing challenges such as high cost, carbon credit and power consumption in this field and this conference would be helpful in that direction.”
The Conference is expected to provide unique opportunity for technology developers, equipment suppliers, steel makers, researchers, academicians, consultants, lubricant suppliers, roll manufacturers, managers, students and others to meet under a common platform and discuss pertinent issues related to rolling and finishing of steel, he said. A total of 90 technical papers have been selected for presentation in parallel oral and poster sessions in the Conference.
Source - Daily Pioneer
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