State-run Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) plans to more than double the capacity of its Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) to approximately 9 million tonnes per annum, with an investment of Rs 30,000 crore. This expansion will enhance supply to critical sectors like defence, oil and gas, and automotive.
Following the expansion, which will take place over a 1,200-acre area, RSP will contribute around 25% to SAIL’s overall target of 35 million tonnes per annum by 2030, according to Alok Verma, Director In-Charge of RSP. Located in Rourkela, Odisha, about 320 km from Bhubaneswar, RSP holds the distinction of being India’s first public sector steel plant, established in the 1950s with German collaboration, initially producing 1 million tonne per annum.
The plant began operations on February 3, 1959, when President Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the first blast furnace, Parvati. Currently, SAIL’s total steel production capacity is 20.30 MTPA, with RSP contributing 4.4 MTPA. Post-expansion, RSP’s capacity will rise by 5 MTPA to 9.4 MTPA by 2030.
Mr Verma noted that the expansion would help SAIL capture a significant share in industries such as shipbuilding, rail wagons, LPG cylinders, automobiles, oil and gas, motors, generators, and transformers. RSP also produces naval-grade, armour-grade, and quenched and tempered plates for various defence applications.
The expansion project, which will require around 1,200 acres on the plant’s southeastern side, will involve a Rs 30,000 crore investment. Key new facilities will include a raw material handling plant, coke oven stamp charge battery, sinter plant, thin slab caster-direct rolling, cold rolling mill, silicon mill, and improved logistics infrastructure.
Additionally, a new blast furnace and steel melting shop will be constructed. To support the expansion, a new railway line is under construction to connect Dumertra station with RSP, improving the transportation of raw materials and finished products. This new line will alleviate pressure on the Bondamunda Yard.
SAIL, a leading player in India’s steel industry, operates several other integrated steel plants, including Durgapur Steel Plant, Burnpur Steel Plant in West Bengal, Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh, and Bokaro Steel Plant in Jharkhand.
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is one of India’s largest steel producers and a key player in the country’s industrial growth. A Maharatna public sector enterprise, SAIL operates multiple integrated and special steel plants across India, producing a diverse range of high-quality steel products catering to sectors such as infrastructure, construction, railways, defense, and automotive industries.
Headquartered in New Delhi, the company has a strong focus on modernization, sustainability, and technological advancements to enhance production efficiency and environmental responsibility. With a rich legacy spanning decades, SAIL continues to be a pillar of India’s self-reliance in steel production, supporting the nation’s development while expanding its global footprint through exports.
