On a new high

Jamshedpur, April 6: The raw materials division of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) recorded the highest ever production of 18 million tonnes in the recently concluded fiscal, registering a growth of about six per cent as compared to last financial year.

SAIL officials said that individually, the Barsua iron ore mines recorded a whopping rise of 32 per cent followed by 30.7 per cent at Chiria mines compared to the last fiscal. The other mines of SAIL at Gua, Bolani, Meghahatuburu and Kiriburu achieved the best ever production striking a growth between 4.2 per cent and 9 per cent compared to the previous year.

Following its corporate plan, SAIL targets to produce 42 MT of iron ore by 2010-11. The raw materials division operates seven iron ore mines in eastern India.

Assistant general manager (public relations) of SAIL, A K Singh informed that for production augmentation and infrastructure development in the financial year 2007-08, the company has taken up projects worth Rs 30 crore.

At its Chiria mines, the raw materials division has recently developed the Manoharpur siding for full rake loading at an investment of Rs 2 crore. This would reduce the loading time by about 40 per cent. For protection of environment, a dry fogging system and crushing and screening plant have been installed at Bolani mines at an investment of over Rs 63 lakh.

Other major projects include installation of diesel generator sets at Meghahatuburu and Gua, development of Roxy siding at Kalta, installation of apron feeder at Gua, enhancing the capacity of Downhill conveyor at Meghahatuburu, full rake loading at Kiriburu and installation of in-motion weigh bridge at Gua, Barsua, and Meghahatuburu.

The company has intensified its corporate social responsibility activities. The raw materials division started an archery academy at Kiriburu and opened an ITI at its Gua ore mines.