By Bizodisha Bureau, Rourkela, March 2, 2015 :

India’s steel production will go up to a staggering 300 million ton per annum [mtpa] by 2025, according to union steel and mines minister, Narendra Singh Tomar.

Speaking at the public meeting organised here to dedicate the modernized and expanded Rourkela Steel Plant to nation by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, Tomar said, the Maharatna Indian government owned Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has set an ambitious target to produce 50 mtpa by 2025.

SAIL is India’s largest steel producing company wiith a turnover of Rs. 49,350 crore. SAIL has five integrated steel plants at Rourkela, Bhilai, Durapur, Bokaro and Burnpur [Indian Iron & Steel Company – a SAIL subsidiary], three special plants, and one subsidiary in different parts of the country.

The production capacity of the Sail steel plant is scheduled to reach 23 million ton per annum (mtpa) by September this year with completion of modernization and expansion work going on in many of its units, said Narendra Singh Tomar.

“With the completion of all expansion and modernization work going on in almost all units of SAIL, its installed capacity will be increased to 23 mtpa from the existing capacity of 13 mtpa”, Tomar declared.

After second and third expansion, SAIL’s capacity will take a big jump to 50 mtpa by 2025, the union steel and mines minister said exuding confidence that by that time country’s total steel production would go up to 300 mtpa.

Tomar also assured that the steel sector of will provide right kind of support to the Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ campaign.

The minister underscored the need for technocrats to lay more stress on research and development to make Indian Steel successfully compete in the international steel market.

During the function, the Prime Minister also awarded the PM’s trophy for the best integrated steel plant for the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant, declared winner for the year 2011-12, was the proud recipient of the coveted trophy for a record 11th time.