The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
ROURKELA, JUNE 04, 2023
As the world comes together to celebrate World Environment Day on 5th June, SAIL-run Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) is reaffirming its commitment to produce green steel in a sustainable and environment-friendly way by consistently adopting state of the art technologies.
RSP has successfully implemented a range of innovative measures to minimize its ecological footprint, mitigate pollution, and preserve precious natural resources. These initiatives not only contribute to a greener future but also ensure the highest standards of environmental compliance. Electrostatic Precipitators, Bag Houses, Multi Cyclones, Dust Suppression Systems, and Wet Scrubbers have been installed to check air pollution. The project work of Treatment System-1 is progressing at a fast rate which will be a major step towards achieving Zero Liquid Discharge.
Treatment System-1, the first ever and unique system in SAIL plants is being constructed at an expenditure of about Rs 140 crore and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Besides, the new state-of-the-art Hot Strip Mill-2 is based on Zero Liquid Discharge Concepts. A state-of-the-art Sewage Treatment Plant of 4 Million Litre Per Day capacity was inaugurated in October, 2022 to treat the Sewage generated from the toilets of the different units of RSP and being discharged through Outfall-7. It was constructed to meet the latest norms stipulated by Central and State Pollution Control Boards for discharge of treated sewage. Setting up of an Effluent Treatment Plant at the Coal Chemical Department with a capacity of 4 MLD (Million Litre per Day) is nearing completion. The project is being implemented at a cost of about Rs.36 crore.
Regular monitoring, sampling and analysis of various Environmental Parameters are also being carried out for taking corrective actions for continuous improvement. The monitoring stations are uplinked with the servers of State Pollution Control Board, Govt. of Odisha and Central Pollution Control Board, Govt. of India. The results are regularly analyzed and preventive actions are taken to minimize environmental pollution.
Among the noteworthy accomplishments of RSP is its significant reduction in carbon emissions through the adoption of cleaner technologies and energy-efficient processes. The plant has implemented state-of-the-art systems to optimize energy consumption, resulting in a substantial decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
RSP receiving the 1st Prize in the National Energy Conservation Awards -2022 in the Integrated Steel Plant category from President of India, Droupadi Murmu, is the reflection of the consistent effort of the collective towards reducing specific energy consumption and thereby reducing carbon footprint.
Furthermore, RSP has undertaken extensive reforestation efforts, so far planting more than 52 lakh trees in and around its premises, thereby enhancing biodiversity and improving air quality. The green and clean ambience of the Steel City of Rourkela offers an eloquent testimony to RSP’s commitment to Mother Earth.
