Foundation stone laid for SAIL’s Orissa project

Kolkata: The foundation stone of SAIL’s Rs 120-crore project for augmentation of the loading capacity of its iron ore mines in Bolani, Orissa, was laid by Mr G. Ojha, SAIL’s Director Personnel & In-charge-of its Raw Materials Division (RMD).

The expansion project is aimed at augmenting the iron ore loading capacity at the Bolani mines from the present level of 3.9 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 10 mtpa.

The project has been divided into two parts.

The first part covers loading facilities and includes installation of the reclaimer, stacker, conveyors and a new stacking yard.

The second part of the scheme will cover railway track modification, overhead electrical work, signalling and telecommunication, etc.

The Centre for Engineering & Technology, an in-house division of SAIL, has been appointed consultant for the entire project, according to a communiqué received from SAIL’s RMD division.

SAIL’s RMD aims to produce 30 million tonnes of iron ore by 2011-12 to meet the increased requirements of steel plants in the eastern sector.

With a view to meeting this target, RMD has taken up several projects to develop existing mines, improve mining operations and strengthen infrastructure in Orissa and Jharkhand.

In Orissa, besides augmenting the capacity of the Bolani iron ore mines to 10 mtpa, RMD has planned to install a 4 mtpa pellet plant at Bolani and augment production capacity at Barsua from 2.01 mtpa to 3.5 mtpa.

The development of a virgin mine of 3.7 mtpa capacity and the setting up of a pellet plant of 2 mtpa capacity in Orissa is also on the anvil , according to the communiqué.