Rourkela Steel Plant expansion work to be over by December: SAIL

BHUBANESWAR: Steel major SAIL today said the capacity expansion of its unit, Rourkela Steel Plant ( RSP), is likely to be completed by the end of this year.

As part of the ongoing expansion and modernisation, a new state-of-the-art blast furnace is being constructed at RSP, Steel Authority of India Ltd Chairman C S Verma told reporters after meeting Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.

"The new blast furnace will enable the steel plant to raise its capacity to 4.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) from the existing 2 MTPA," Verma said during his meeting with the Chief Minister.

The SAIL Chairman also agreed to consider proposals made by Odisha government for upgradation of RSP's Ispat General Hospital (IGH) and setting up of a medical college there, official sources said.

During the discussion, the Chief Minister suggested that expenditure for RSP's peripheral area development be enhanced by the steel major.

Patnaik also sought the public sector steel company's cooperation in mid-day meal programmes in schools located in Rourkela municipality area.