Steel Authority of India (SAIL) said Bokaro Steel Plant will receive eight point three million tonnes (8.3 mn t) per year of iron ore directly from SAIL mines via a slurry pipeline. The company said the project will be the longest slurry pipeline in India’s steel sector and will remove dependence on railway rakes for ore transport. The move is intended to ensure a reliable uninterrupted raw material supply to support plant expansion.

As part of a brownfield expansion, crude steel production capacity is to rise from four point six five mn t per annum to seven point two five mn t per annum, while hot metal capacity will be enhanced to seven point five five mn t per annum. The project carries a direct capital investment of Rs 150 billion (Rs 150 bn) and is designed for an operational life of approximately 30 years. Company statements indicate the project is targeted for completion in about three and a half years.

Iron ore from SAIL’s Gua and Bolani mines will be finely ground, mixed with water and routed via Jamda through a 258-kilometre main pipeline to Bokaro. The main pipeline has been engineered with additional capacity to carry up to 16 mn t per year, allowing future scaling in line with the plant expansion. The scheme includes ore preparation facilities at the mines, pumping stations at both mines and at Jamda, and dedicated receiving facilities at Bokaro.

The project incorporates a sustainable water management arrangement in which water used for slurry transport will be returned to the mines through a separate pipeline for reuse, thereby conserving water and improving resource efficiency. The scheme is expected to lower transportation costs, reduce pressure on the rail network and cut dust, diesel use and carbon emissions. The expansion includes a new 4,500 cubic metre blast furnace, a modern melt shop, a Thin Slab Casting and Direct Rolling facility and Industry 4.0 automation, and is expected to boost economic activity across construction, engineering, logistics and allied sectors.