Tata Steel signs contracts for Orissa steel project

Kolkata, Jan 22 (UNI) Tata Steel's six million ton per annum Greenfield steel plant project at Kalinganagar in Orissa was on way to its fruition.

The MoU for this project was signed with the Orissa Government in November, 2004.

Company sources here today said the proposed steel plant will fulfill Orissa's desire for a second mega-steel facility. Contracts for the implementation of the main equipment for the steel project were finalized and orders were placed today following the signing ceremony in Mumbai when orders for the following facilities were also placed.

Among thesem were one Blast Furnace of 4300 cubic metres along with its associated facilities and auxiliaries which would produce 3.2 million tons of iron every year.

This would be the largest blast furnace in India as on date and the work for the design and supplies had been awarded to Siemens VAI of the UK.

The complete steelmaking facilities, including two 300 MT capacity LD converters, a three million ton per annum two-strand contiuous slab caster to cast 2000 mm wide slabs with secondary refining had also been ordered.

The work for the design and supplies had been awarded to SMS Demag, Germany, while the facilities for desulphurisation of hot metal as well as refining of steel will be designed and supplied by SMS mevac, UK.

The agreements were signed by TATA Steel Managing Director B Muthuraman, Mr H M Nerurkar, vice-president, Tata Steel and Mr Geoff Wingrove, Director Iron&Steel, Siemens VAI, UK. Mr B Dahmen, Member of the Managing Board, SMS Demag, AG, Germany and Mr Craig Priday, MD, SMS.UK.

The approximate value of the agreements signed today is Rs 1000 crore. The first phase of three million ton per annum capacity is scheduled to be commissioned in 2009.

UNI