Tata Steel commissions India’s largest blast furnace in Odisha’s Kalinganagar

Bhubaneswar, Sept 20: Tata Steel has successfully commissioned India’s largest blast furnace at its Kalinganagar facility in Odisha, marking a significant milestone in the company's Phase II expansion, which involved an investment of Rs 27,000 crore. This expansion increases the plant's capacity from 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 8 MTPA and was inaugurated by CEO T. V. Narendran, alongside senior company leaders.

The new blast furnace is set to enhance production capabilities to meet the rising demands of industries such as automotive, infrastructure, power, shipbuilding, and defence. This development reinforces Odisha's position as Tata Steel's largest investment hub, with cumulative investments exceeding Rs 100,000 crore over the last decade.

Narendran emphasized the importance of this expansion for both the steel industry and the region’s socio-economic development. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Odisha and acknowledged the contributions of employees, suppliers, and stakeholders in achieving this milestone.

The new furnace boasts a volume of 5,870 m³ and incorporates advanced features for efficiency and sustainability, including four top combustion stoves—a first in India—and a dry gas cleaning plant for enhanced energy recovery. Additionally, it features the world’s largest Top Gas Recovery Turbine (TRT) for additional energy recovery and employs an innovative evaporative cooling system to optimize water and power consumption.

The Phase II expansion also includes a Pellet Plant, Coke Plant, and Cold Rolling Mill, all utilizing cutting-edge technologies aimed at operational efficiency and reduced carbon footprint. Tata Steel is committed to community development in the Kalinganagar area, positively impacting over 200,000 people through various programs in education, healthcare, and livelihoods. The plant is recognized for its stringent safety standards, making it one of the safest steel manufacturing facilities globally.