Iron ore supply resumes for Vizag Steel

The supply of iron ore to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity responsible for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), faced a temporary disruption due to damage to the transportation line. The supply was halted from September 24 to October 9, resulting in damage to the Kottavalasa-Kirandul railway line on September 24. The damage was primarily caused by a substantial landslide that affected the tracks, attributed to adverse weather conditions experienced during the southwest monsoon period. During this supply interruption, the team at RINL made commendable efforts to ensure a continuous flow of iron ore to meet the VSP's requirements. They sourced iron ore from alternative providers, including NMDC Karnataka, SAIL Bolani/Barsuan, Orissa Minerals Development Corporation Ltd, and Orissa Mining Corporation. These arrangements were crucial to maintaining the smooth and uninterrupted operations of VSP's two blast furnaces, given the critical stock levels of iron ore, a result of heavy monsoon rains in the mining area. An official spokesperson from RINL acknowledged the substantial challenge posed by the major landslide on the KK line between Jaypore and Koraput. This particular line was a crucial channel for iron ore supplies from the NMDC Bailadila sector, which traditionally served as the primary source for RINL. However, RINL's resilience prevailed as they managed to secure vital iron ore from various other sources to bridge the gap and ensure the plant's operations continued without significant disruptions. RINL is now set to further increase its production capacity as it expects to receive stranded rakes on the KK line. Coupled with the continued supplies from NMDC and the quantities obtained from alternative sources, RINL remains committed to sustaining uninterrupted operations and ensuring the availability of essential raw materials for the steel plant.