Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In Kalinganagar, Odisha, Tata Steel successfully put India’s biggest blast furnace into service. At a cost of Rs 27,000 crore, the Kalinganagar plant’s Phase II expansion will increase its overall capacity from 3 million tonnes per year (MTPA) to 8 MTPA. Tata Steel’s CEO and Managing Director, T V Narendran, inaugurated a new facility in the presence of senior company officials. Since then, the company has invested over Rs 100,000 crore in Odisha, making it the company’s largest investment destination in India. Tata Steel will be able to handle the increasing demands of a number of industries, including shipbuilding, automotive, infrastructure, electricity, and defense, thanks to the new blast furnace. It will also help some industries like lifting and oil and gas.
“The commissioning of India’s largest blast furnace at Kalinganagar is a momentous occasion for the steel industry, setting new benchmarks in capacity, technology, and sustainability. A key enabler of socio-economic development in the region, the expansion not only strengthens Tata Steel’s position as a leader in high-end, value-added steel segments but also showcases our advanced engineering prowess. It underscores our commitment to boosting private investment in India, aligning with the nation’s vision for self-reliance and sustainable industrial growth. On behalf of Tata Steel, I thank the Government of Odisha for their unwavering support and applaud the collective efforts of our employees, suppliers & vendor partners, and all other stakeholders in enabling this significant milestone,” said Narendran.
With a 5,870 m3 capacity, the new blast furnace is outfitted with cutting-edge technology for extended campaign life and an environmentally friendly layout to maximize the steelmaking process. For the best specific fuel use in hot metal production, it will make use of two preheating stoves and four top combustion stoves—the first in India. To maximize energy recovery from by-product gas, a dry gas cleaning plant has been installed—a first for Tata Steel. Ten percent more energy will be recovered with the aid of the largest Top Gas Recovery Turbine (TRT) in the world, with a 35 MW power output capability.
In an Indian blast furnace, an evaporative cooling system is being used for the first time, optimizing the available space and reducing particular water and electricity usage by about 20% as compared to traditional systems. A zero-process water discharge scheme with rainwater collection will also be installed in the blast furnace. A pellet plant, a coke plant, and a cold rolling mill are additional important buildings in Kalinganagar’s phase II development. All of these facilities use cutting-edge technology and environmentally friendly procedures. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has selected Tata Steel Kalinganagar as its first Global Lighthouse, making it the first industrial facility in India. The Kalinganagar mill was awarded the esteemed ResponsibleSteel TM Certification earlier this year.
