The Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, has made a significant move to enhance the productivity of its blast furnaces and cut production costs by inaugurating Nitrogen Pressure Reducing Stations. This new initiative is expected to increase the rate of Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI), allowing the substitution of expensive coke with more affordable coal. This will reduce production expenses and improve furnace efficiency.
RINL aims to increase its PCI rate from the current 100 kg per ton of hot metal to around 180 kg per ton at Blast Furnaces 1, 2, and 3 at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. This effort aligns with the company’s broader goals of optimizing operations and enhancing cost-effectiveness.
In a program held today at RINL, AK Bagchi, Director (Projects) and acting Director (Operations), officially inaugurated the Nitrogen Pressure Reducing Stations. These stations are designed to support enhanced PCI across all three blast furnaces, promising significant reductions in hot metal production costs and improved furnace productivity.
Terming the event a milestone, AK Bagchi praised the dedicated efforts of the project teams responsible for commissioning the Nitrogen Pressure Reducing Stations. He emphasized the critical need to reduce production costs and highlighted that such initiatives are pivotal in steering RINL towards a swift turnaround.
The event was attended by Chief General Managers, department heads, and other senior officials from the Projects and Works departments, underscoring the collective commitment to advancing RINL’s operational efficiency and cost reduction strategies.
