Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is gearing up to more than double the capacity of its Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) in Odisha to 9.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030, with an investment of Rs 30,000 crore. This ambitious expansion, part of SAIL’s broader vision to reach 35 MTPA by the decade’s end, will see RSP contribute nearly 25% to the company’s total output, reinforcing its pivotal role in India’s steel industry.

RSP, India’s first public sector steel plant established in the 1950s with German collaboration, began operations in 1959 with a 1 MTPA capacity. Today, it stands at 4.4 MTPA, forming a significant chunk of SAIL’s current 20.3 MTPA capacity. “This expansion will enhance our market share in key sectors like defence, oil and gas, and automobiles,” said Alok Verma, Director In-Charge, RSP. The plant specializes in products like plates, HR coils, welded pipes, and CRNO steel, catering to shipbuilding, LPG cylinders, rail wagons, and naval applications.

Spanning 1,200 acres on RSP’s southeastern side, the greenfield project will feature advanced facilities including a raw material handling plant, coke oven battery, sinter plant, blast furnace, steel melting shop, thin slab caster, cold rolling mill, silicon mill, and upgraded logistics. A new railway line from Dumertra station to RSP, under construction by South Eastern Railways on a cost-deposit basis, will streamline raw material and product transport, easing pressure on Bondamunda Yard.

This Rs 30,000 crore investment aligns with India’s National Steel Policy, targeting 300 MTPA by 2030. RSP’s growth will bolster SAIL’s portfolio, which includes plants in Durgapur, Burnpur, Bhilai, and Bokaro. With its legacy of producing specialized steel for defence and energy sectors, RSP’s expansion promises to drive industrial growth, enhance self-reliance, and meet rising domestic and global demand, cementing SAIL’s position among India’s top steelmakers.