A Special Year

Prior to reaching this base year, the Company prepared itself through modernisation programmes, technology changes, shifts in the product mix and radically altering all paradigms to position itself as a world-class steel producer. In the last year, therefore, the story at Tata Steel has not been just that of spurts in profits or growth in revenue but in fact a complete make-over for the Company, which has transformed it from a youthful Indian corporate to a rising international star.

“Last year has been a special year for us,” reiterated Dr Tridibesh Mukherjee, Deputy Managing Director, Steel at the function held on April 1, 2005 to celebrate the completion of an extremely eventful 2004-05. “This was the first year when we went outside the country and invested in NatSteel, which has a capacity of 2 million tonnes. We should all congratulate our MD, Mr B Muthuraman for making a special effort in this direction. Setting a target of 15 million tonnes by 2010, too was a definite step towards growth. The task of expansion is now complete. Commissioning is being done one after one. Sinter Plant # 3 has been commissioned; the vertical slab caster was commissioned; several small projects have been commissioned. Work is also in progress for the 2.4 million tonnes project. Last year, we shut down the ‘G’ Blast Furnace after a record production of 14 million tonnes. It is a record for India. Coke Battery # 3 has made a record production. This is the oldest battery in the country and has completed 32 years. Most of the clearances for the steel plant at Kalinganagar have been obtained and the villagers have started vacating. This is a big step,” he exhaulted.

Tata Steel continued to ride high on the production records set by it during the year. Each of the Company’s mills improved over the achievements of FY 2003-04, with the Cold Rolling Mill setting a scorching pace, recording an increase of 14.3% during the current year.

During the year, the Steel Works was certified to OHSAS 18001 and achieved 15 accident free months for its employees as well as six months for contract employees. The current expansion and capacity enhancement projects have significantly increased the number of contract employees within the Steel Works.

The Wire Rod Mill of the Company closed the year with a production of 0.42 million tonnes, the Merchant Mill equalled last year’s production at 0.295 million tonnes, while Works Saleable Steel production improved by 0.5%. The dramatic increase in production seen at the Cold Rolling Mill is also a result of the Company’s planned shift towards high-end products.