Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh and Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan dedicated SAIL’s Steel Processing Unit situated at Bettiah in West Champaran, Bihar. High quality steel tubes and pipes will be produced by this unit.

On this occasion Sushil Modi, Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar, Sanjay Jaiswal, MP from west Champaran, Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Chairman SAIL, Puneet Kansal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel were present. Also, local leaders, senior government officials, steel dealers and consumers and a large number of people were present during the occasion.

Starting under the supervision of SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant, this SPU has an installed capacity of 50,000 tonne yearly and Bokaro Steel Plant will supply raw materials to this SPU. This SPU is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 116 crore with the technical expertise from SAIL’s Bokaro and Rourkela Steel Plants.

While lauding the SPU as a major step for fulfilling local steel requirements, Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said, “I am very happy to share with you that Steel Ministry under the National Steel Policy 2017 targets to double its capacity and take it to 300 million tonne by 2031; while also emphasizing to increase the rural steel consumption. This step will surely help in bridging the gap in steel consumption between rural and urban India. This SPU will take the necessary measure towards this direction.”

He further added, “The trial production from this unit has started since January 2019. Started with the technical expertise from Bokaro and Rourkela Steel Plant, this SPU will get raw materials from Bokaro Steel Plant. Being an agricultural intensive area and the areas around this place has huge requirements of pipes. The unit with an installed capacity of 50,000 tonne per year will play an important role in development of this region.”

Ram Vilas Paswan while praising SAIL for setting this SPU in this region said, “This Steel Processing Unit is a dream of the local people and beginning of production from this unit is dream come true for them. I am sure that this unit will expand its capacity in coming times and will generate more employment opportunities for people.”

This unit is ready for commercial production. It will help meeting the steel tubes and pipes requirement in Bettiah and Champaran including the nearby areas of east Uttar Pradesh. “The steel tubes produced from this unit can be used for construction works while the steel pipes can be used for water transportation, sewerage etc.,” expressed Anil Kumar Chaudhary.
Both Government of India and the National Steel Policy 2017 are emphasizing on increasing the steel consumption in rural India. SAIL is also working to increase the share of its value added steel production. Towards this, SAIL has set up SPUs in those semi-urban and rural areas where it does not have integrated steel plants. And this SPU is an important unit in that series.
The trial production from the larger tube mill has already begun in this SPU and the production from the smaller tube will soon begin. Being an agricultural area, it has a lot of demand for high quality pipes.