The story
The Bhilai Steel Plant of SAIL is the anchor of Durg district, built near iron ore, limestone and dolomite deposits and the Howrah-Mumbai rail line. Around it grew foundries, re-rolling mills, fabrication shops and engineering suppliers in the Bhilai industrial estate. The plant went through a major modernisation and expansion, and SAIL plans a further expansion under its Vision 2030.
In numbers
Bhilai Steel Plant's capacity was 6.45 million tonnes a year of hot metal, 6.00 million tonnes of crude steel and 5.40 million tonnes of saleable steel.
Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2076, Modernisation of SAIL Units (Ministry of Steel), 21 March 2022 · 2022The proposed crude steel capacity of Bhilai Steel Plant under SAIL Vision 2030 is 12.0 million tonnes a year.
Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2076, Modernisation of SAIL Units (Ministry of Steel), 21 March 2022 · 2022The plant's modernisation and expansion cost Rs 19,857 crore against an original estimate of Rs 17,266 crore.
Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2076, Modernisation of SAIL Units (Ministry of Steel), 21 March 2022 · 2022
Ways in for a newcomer
- Fabrication, machining and maintenance contracts for the steel plant
- Foundry and casting units using plant by-products and scrap
- Slag and fly-ash based building products
- Industrial safety, spares and consumables supply
Problems the cluster faces
- Dependence on one large buyer
- Long payment cycles in public-sector procurement
- Air and dust pollution rules
Businesses to start here
Steel Castings (Induction Furnace Foundry) →Steel Re-Rolling Mill (MS Rounds, Angles, Channels, Tor Steel) →Heavy Fabrication (Tanks, Pressure Vessels, Piping) →Fly Ash Bricks Unit →Engineering Workshop (Job Work and Repairs) →MS Fabrication / Steel Furniture Unit →