SAIL to Invest ₹15,000 Crore in Bokaro Expansion, Secures Iron Ore Supply Route.

SAIL’s Bokaro Steel Plant is set to receive 8.3 million tonnes (MT) of iron ore annually directly from the company’s mines through a modern slurry pipeline system, marking a major shift in raw material transportation for the steel sector.

The project, described by SAIL as the first of its kind for the company, aims to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted supply of iron ore while reducing dependence on railway rakes for transportation.

As part of the expansion plan, Bokaro Steel Plant’s crude steel production capacity will be increased from the current 4.65 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 7.25 MTPA, while hot metal capacity will rise to 7.55 MTPA. The brownfield expansion project involves an investment of around ₹15,000 crore.

Under the slurry pipeline system, iron ore will be finely ground at SAIL’s mines, mixed with water to form slurry, and transported directly to the plant through a dedicated pipeline network. The system will carry iron ore from SAIL’s Gua and Bolani mines, with material first routed to Jamda before being transported through a 258-kilometre main pipeline to Bokaro.

The pipeline will initially have the capacity to transport around 8.3 MT of iron ore annually and has been designed to handle up to 16 MT per year in the future to support the plant’s planned expansion.

SAIL said the project will significantly improve supply chain efficiency by eliminating the need for railway rake allocation, loading, transportation and unloading operations. It is expected to reduce transportation costs, ease pressure on the railway network and provide a continuous flow of raw materials.

The project also includes a sustainable water management system, under which water used for slurry transportation will be returned to the mines through a separate pipeline for reuse, helping conserve resources.

The infrastructure development includes ore preparation facilities at Gua and Bolani mines, pumping stations at both mines and Jamda, and dedicated receiving facilities at Bokaro Steel Plant. The pipeline is designed for an operational life of around 30 years and is targeted for completion in approximately three and a half years.

The expansion project, part of SAIL’s Vision 2030, will include a new 4,500 cubic metre blast furnace, a modern steel melt shop, a Thin Slab Casting and Direct Rolling (TSCDR) facility, a new air separation unit, advanced raw material handling systems, energy recovery solutions and Industry 4.0-based digital automation technologies.

SAIL said the project will strengthen Bokaro Steel Plant’s production capabilities, improve competitiveness and create economic opportunities across construction, engineering, logistics, manufacturing, SMEs and allied sectors.