Pelllet Manufacturer’s Association of India (PMAI) recently conducted a two day workshop on “Skill Development in Iron ore Pellet Processing”. The workshop organised on 07-08th Nov’17 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh aimed to enhance the technical skills of shop floor personnel in pellet plants. The workshop observed attendance of over 50 participants with Pellet plant operators with over 20 years’ of experience.
Key highlights of the workshop were as follows:
– In view of India’s National Steel Policy which aims at raising steel capacity to 300 MnT pa by 2030, demand for pellets will increase and will serve as a key input to the iron & steel industry.
– The workshop witnessed technical sessions on on pelletisation process , Operation & maintenance. Straight grate & Grate kiln pelletisation process.
-Indian Steel Ministry is stressing on installation of slurry pipeline, which can reduce ore transportation cost by about 80%.
– The industry experts highlighted important parameters for pellet quality like Tumbler Index and Abrasion Index apart from Size, Fe content & impurities.
– Mr Deepak Bhatnagar, Secretary General PMAI shared on the sidelines of the event despite having pellet capacity of 85 MnT pa, production remains low. Last year Indian pellet production was around 47-48 MnT and this fiscal it is less likely to be increased significantly.
High domestic iron ore prices and comparatively less selling price of pellets is still preventing pellet makers to raise capacity utilization as it is less economical. Other challenges that Indian pellet industry is facing are: Less availability of high grade ore, high loss on ignition etc.
– However increased pellet exports are boosting Indian industry in this fiscal. Amid increased pellet exports from India in this fiscal, domestic pellet prices have also remained supported.
– On the sidelines of the event, Mr Bhatnagar shared that pellet manufacturers have called for a total ban on export of high grade iron ore fines so that it can be made available to the pellet plants at nominal cost.
Visit to Sarda Energy & Minerals
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