ROURKELA: At a time when the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) is making loss, the newly appointed Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) Chairman Prakash Kumar Singh, accompanied by three SAIL Directors, on Sunday arrived on a two-day visit of the RSP.
The visit of the top brass of SAIL assumes significance in the wake of around `12,000 crore modernisation and expansion projects of RSP failing to yield desired results. Moreover, while ground work for setting up of new Hot Strip Mill (HSP) and modernisation of the Blast Furnace 1 are underway, the SAIL is yet to act on the announcement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi made on April 1 last year to upgrade the RSP-run Ispat General Hospital into super specialty hospital and medical college.
Upon arrival, Singh inaugurated a new Sulphuric Acid plant with a capacity of 125 tonnes per day at the RSP. The new plant has replaced the old plant and will cater to the needs of the Coal Chemical Department, Cold Rolling Mill and Captive Power Plant-I.
Meanwhile, SAIL chairman P K Singh met Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and apprised the Minister of various problems faced by the steel industry.
On the other hand, Jual asked the SAIL chief to expedite the upgradation of RSP-run Ispat General Hospital.
Jual also asked the SAIL chairman to take steps to set up a joint venture cement plant at Purunapani and a railway coach factory at Bondamunda. Jual also took up the issue of the grievances of the displaced persons of RSP with Singh.