Sail starts Bolani mines expansion in Orissa

Rourkela: Country's largest steel maker Steel Authority of India (Sail) launched the first major expansion scheme for enhancing its iron ore loading facilities at Bolani mines in Orissa at an investment of Rs 120 crore.

Director Personnel Sail Ganatantra Ojha laid the foundation stone of the loading capacity.

Sail has embarked upon the massive plan of its mines in tandem with Rs 54,000 crore mega expansion project to enhance the steel production over 24 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2010-11.

The iron ore loading capacity of Bolani mines would go up to 10 mtpa from its present level of 4.1 mtpa, Ojha had said on Wednesday.

The project has been divided in two parts. The first part of the scheme covers main loading facilities which include installation of reclaimer, stacker, 15 number of conveyors and new stack yard.

In the second part, the project would cover railway track modification, overhead electrical work, signaling and telecommunication, Ojha said.

Bolani would be the biggest iron ore mine and biggest loading site of the country, he said and added the project would be completed within 18 months.