Essar Steel has commissioned its integrated pellet complex in Odisha.
The complex comprises an iron ore beneficiation facility at Dabuna (Keonjhar), 6 million tonne per annum (mtpa) pellet plant at Paradeep (Jagatsinghpur) and 253 km long slurry pipe line with 12 million tonne carrying capacity, a statement from the company said.
Investment It has invested around Rs.6,000 crore in setting up the complex. With this commissioning, Essar Steel is the largest pellet producer in the country with an annual pellet capacity of 14 mtpa — 8 mtpa at Vizag and 6 mtpa at Odisha. A further 6 mtpa pellet plant at Paradeep is to be commissioned shortly, including corresponding up-scaling of the beneficiation plant taking the Odisha complex capacity to 12 mtpa.
The beneficiation facility is designed to use low grade iron ore fines and the slurry pipeline, according to the company, is the most cost effective and fastest mode of transportation that eases significant pressure on the rail and road network.
The Odisha pellet complex has a 120 MW power plant and a captive berth at Paradeep Port set up by Essar Ports.
The pellet plant is connected by a 9.5 km conveyor belt to the fully mechanised berth at Paradeep port enabling seamless transportation and loading of pellets from the plant into the ship.
Essar group companies with a pellet capacity of 27 mtpa shall be among the world’s top three pellet producers once the 7 mtpa plant at Minnesota, U.S., becomes operational by the second half of next year, the company said.
