THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

ROURKELA, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026

Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), the flagship integrated steel unit of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), has achieved its highest-ever saleable steel production for the first five months of a fiscal, underlining sustained operational efficiency and a strong production momentum at the plant.

RSP produced 17,52,561 tonnes of saleable steel during April-August 2026, surpassing its previous best of 17,48,349 tonnes recorded in 2023, the company said. The latest performance marks a fresh benchmark for the plant and comes amid continued efforts to optimise processes and improve productivity across its operating units.

A key driver of the record performance was Hot Strip Mill-2 (HSM-2), which registered its best-ever production for the April-August period at 11,23,275 tonnes. The mill comfortably exceeded its previous record of 10,68,360 tonnes achieved in 2025, reflecting improved operational performance and capacity utilisation.

HSM-2 also set a new benchmark in value-added production. Its Sheet Shearing Line (SSL) produced 1,46,748 tonnes of HR Plates during the five-month period, significantly higher than the previous record of 1,23,405 tonnes recorded in 2025.

The Silicon Steel Mill also contributed to the plant's strong showing, producing 34,400 tonnes of Cold Rolled Non-Oriented (CRNO) steel during April-August 2026. This performance surpassed the mill's earlier record of 33,736 tonnes registered in 2008, setting a new benchmark after nearly two decades.

The record production comes against the backdrop of a broader focus on process optimisation, operational reliability and higher-value steel production at RSP. The plant attributed the achievement to the collective efforts of its workforce, optimised process management and close coordination among its operating units.

The latest production milestones strengthen RSP's position as a key contributor to SAIL's steelmaking operations and underscore its focus on delivering high volumes of quality steel to meet the country's growing industrial and infrastructure requirements.