Country's largest blast furnace becomes operational

Jamshedpur, May 31 (UNI) The country's largest blast furnace today became operational at the Jamshepdur plant of the Tata Steel, increasing the total production of steel in the country by three per cent.

Union Steel Secretary R S Pandey inaugurated the giant furnace, with inner volume of 3,814 cubic metres and 13 metres hearth diameter.

The furnace, named 'H Furnace', will produce 7,150 tonnes of hot metal per day. It has been set up by the Tata Steel Growth Shop in a record 25 months.

Speaking on the occasion, Tata Steel Managing Director B Muthurraman said the furnace will enhance the total production capacity of the company by 1.8 tonnes to seven tonnes by the end of September.

Mr Pandey said it was an achievement not only for Tata Steel but for the whole country.

''Taking a cue from it, other steel companies should also enhance their capacity so that the ever widening gap between production and consumption could be met,'' he added.

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