‘G’ Blast Furnace

successfully blown in

Tata Steel’s largest Blast Furnace, the ‘G’ Blast Furnace was successfully and safely blown down on December 3, 2004. Among the most productive in the country, ‘G’ Blast Furnace had in its first campaign, which lasted 12 years instead of the expected 10 years, produced 14 million tonnes. The last one million tonnes were produced in a mere 298 days. This is the highest ever production achieved by any blast furnace in the country in its first campaign.

After the shutdown, it was a race against time for the project team from Tata Steel, supported by renowned blast furnace experts from Italy and Germany, including those from SMS Demag, Germany to complete the planned upgradation and expansion. On April 7, four months after the shutdown, the Blast Furnace was successfully blown in, to commence a planned campaign life of 15 years.

Part of the Company’s ongoing 1 million tonnes expansion, the upgradation will enhance it’s capacity from 1 million tonnes per annum to 1.80 million tonnes per annum. The hot metal capacity of the Steel Works will grow to touch 5.2 million tonnes during 2005-06, with 0.2 million tonnes per annum being added through improvements in iron making in the older ‘A’ to ‘F’ Blast Furnaces. Tata Steel’s finished steel capacity will then stand at 7 million tonnes per annum - including the 2 million tonnes capacity of NatSteel Asia. Completed at a cost of Rs 580 crores, this upgradation is expected to produce better quality hot metal at a lower fuel rate enabling the Company to reduce its cost of production further.