SAIL to Expand Rourkela Steel Plant Capacity to 9 Million Tonnes by 2030!
By Ashutosh Arora
Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has announced plans to more than double the capacity of its Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) to approximately 9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030, with an investment of Rs 30,000 crore. This major expansion will bolster supply to critical sectors such as defense, oil and gas, and automotive.
The expansion, which will span a 1,200-acre area, is expected to contribute about 25% of SAIL’s overall steel production target of 35 MTPA by 2030. Currently, RSP contributes 4.4 MTPA to SAIL’s total capacity of 20.30 MTPA. Once completed, the plant will increase its capacity by 5 MTPA, bringing its total production to 9.4 MTPA by 2030.
Alok Verma, Director In-Charge of RSP, emphasized that the expanded plant would play a key role in strengthening SAIL’s position in industries like shipbuilding, rail wagons, automobiles, oil and gas, and motors. Additionally, RSP’s production includes naval-grade, armour-grade, and quenched and tempered plates for defense applications.
The expansion project will introduce a range of new facilities, including a raw material handling plant, coke oven stamp charge battery, sinter plant, cold rolling mill, and an upgraded logistics infrastructure. A new blast furnace and steel melting shop will also be built to support the increased production capacity. To ensure efficient transportation of raw materials and finished products, a new railway line is being constructed to connect Dumertra station with RSP, relieving pressure on the Bondamunda Yard.
This investment aligns with SAIL’s broader growth strategy, further consolidating its position as a leader in India’s steel industry, alongside other integrated steel plants across the country such as those in Durgapur, Burnpur, Bhilai, and Bokaro.
