Tata Steel has started production from its new coke ovens project at Kalinganagar in Odisha.
Tata Steel has started production of coke in its new steel plant at Kalinganagar in Odisha, marking a major milestone in the path of commissioning the first phase of its first greenfield project outside Jamshedpur. The production commenced on 4 Sept’15; heating of coke ovens had begun on 19 May’15.
Coke, obtained when coking coal is heated in coke ovens (in absence of air), is mixed with iron ore in blast furnace for producing hot metal. The hot metal is further processed into steel.
The plant will produce 3 MnT pa of steel in the first phase, during which, the plant will host two coke oven batteries, each comprising of 88 ovens, and will have a gross production capacity of 1.5 mtpa of coke.
Rise in coking coal imports of Tata Steel
One of the country’s steel giants, Tata Steel, has a large contribution in increased imports of the country. The company had introduced new coke oven plants last year, which have increased coking coal imports.
Quantity in 000’MT
Sources: SteelMint
Tata Steel’s imports have increased by about 25% since Aug’14. The company also registered about 50% growth in Aug’15 imports compared to last month. It has imported about 2.4 MnT of coking coal till Aug’15 in this fiscal.
India’s coking coal imports increased to 19.7 MnT during Apr’15-Aug’15, which was about 18.2 MnT during the same period of last year.
Tata Steel signed an MoU with the government of Odisha for setting up the project in November 2004 with an investment of INR 154 billion. But due to heavy agitation by the local people which even led to police firing in Jan, 2006 claiming lives of 14 local tribals, the project work could not be taken up till 2010. Due to this delay the cost of the project has now gone up to INR 251 billion out of which the company has invested about INR 20 billion so far.
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