Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) Chairman Navin Jindal on Wednesday said the company expects to start producing sponge iron using synthesis gas from coal gasification plant at its six-million tonne steel project site at Angul.
Manufacturing of sponge iron from synthesis gas (syngas), a process that the company claimed to have used for the first time in the world, is expected to begin by May 15.
“Coal gasification has already started at the project site and the coal gasifiers are working well. For the first time in the world, synthesis gas will be used for making sponge iron on the DRI (direct reduced iron) route and we expect the plant will be commissioned by May 15,” Jindal said after meeting Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra.
The DRI plant has a unique feature of using syngas from the coal gasification plants as reductant. The DRI-gasification route is being used for the first time in the world and has the advantage of using high ash coal, which is predominantly available in the vicinity of the project site. The DRI plant has a capacity of two million tonne per annum (MTPA).
JSPL has signed an agreement with Lurgi Technology Company, South Africa, for providing technology for coal gasification, the company stated.
The proposed coal gasification technology to be used in this plant offers practical means of utilising indigenous coal for meeting stringent environmental control requirements.
The company is setting up a six MTPA integrated steel plant at Angul. A 1.5 MTPA steel melting shop (SMS) has been recently commissioned. The project is in fast-track mode with 1.2 MTPA plate mill and an 810 MW captive power plant being already commissioned.
JSPL’s ambitious coal to liquid (CTL) project received a jolt after de-allocation of Ramchandi promotional block by the Ministry of Coal citing considerable delay in development of the coal block.