Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday commenced his three-day visit to West Bengal with an extensive review of the IISCO Steel Plant (ISP), Burnpur, one of the country's oldest and most significant integrated steel plants under the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
The visit covered a comprehensive assessment of the plant's ongoing expansion projects, production facilities, infrastructure, sustainability initiatives and workforce welfare, reaffirming the Government of India's commitment to strengthening India's public sector steel ecosystem under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
 

Upon his arrival at the plant, the Union Minister was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour. He was received by SAIL Chairman and Managing Director Shri Ashok Kumar Panda, the Director In-Charge of IISCO Steel Plant and senior officials of SAIL.

The Minister began his visit with an inspection of the COB-12 (Stamp Charge Coke Oven Battery) Project, one of the flagship capacity augmentation initiatives at IISCO. Senior officials briefed him on the progress of the project, including the Battery Proper, Coke Dry Cooling Plant (CDQ), By-Product Plant and advanced environmental protection systems that are expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency while promoting sustainable steel production.
 

Reviewing the project, Kumaraswamy emphasised that timely completion of strategic expansion projects would play a crucial role in strengthening India's steel manufacturing capabilities.

"India's journey towards becoming a global steel powerhouse depends not only on expanding capacity but also on building modern, sustainable and technologically advanced steel plants. Every strategic investment we make today strengthens the foundation of a self-reliant India," the Union Minister said.

As part of his visit, Kumaraswamy inaugurated a newly constructed Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) Water Reservoir with a storage capacity of 84,000 cubic metres, developed to meet the water requirements of COB-10 while also supporting the future 4.08 MTPA Expansion Project at IISCO Steel Plant.

 

Officials informed the Minister that the integrated system comprises a newly constructed Booster Pump House, a dedicated Pump House for COB-10 and a Process Water Pump House, currently under construction, which will establish a closed-loop water circulation system to maximise water conservation, minimise losses and significantly improve operational efficiency.

The Minister described the project as an important step towards sustainable industrial infrastructure. "Resource efficiency and environmental responsibility must go hand in hand with industrial growth. Projects like these demonstrate how modern infrastructure can simultaneously improve operational performance and conserve precious natural resources," he observed.

Kumaraswamy later inspected the plant's Blast Furnace and reviewed its operational performance, production parameters and ongoing modernisation initiatives. During the review, officials informed the Minister that the plant had achieved 2.9 million tonnes of hot metal production during FY 2025-26, reflecting a strong operational performance and sustained improvements in productivity.

The Minister also visited the Blast Furnace Control Room, where he witnessed live operations and interacted with engineers and employees managing one of the plant's most critical production units. Commending the workforce, he said, "Behind every tonne of steel produced stands the dedication, skill and commitment of thousands of engineers, technicians and workers. Their contribution continues to strengthen India's industrial capabilities."

A comprehensive review meeting on the overall performance of IISCO Steel Plant was subsequently chaired by the Union Minister. The meeting was attended by SAIL Chairman and Managing Director Shri Ashok Kumar Panda, the Director In-Charge of IISCO Steel Plant, Executive Directors and senior officials of SAIL.

The discussions focused on production performance, operational efficiency, ongoing modernisation projects, capacity expansion, sustainability initiatives, capital expenditure, technology adoption and future growth strategies for the plant.

Addressing the officers during the review, Kumaraswamy congratulated the entire IISCO team for achieving several operational milestones during FY 2025-26. Referring to the plant's achievements, he noted that IISCO had recorded 108 per cent of its rated Hot Metal capacity, 108 per cent of Crude Steel capacity and 109 per cent of Saleable Steel capacity, describing them as landmark achievements that reflected the plant's growing operational excellence.

The Minister also lauded the plant's efforts in improving inventory management, enhancing procurement transparency and expanding vendor participation, particularly through the inclusion of MSMEs, SC/ST entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs.

He further appreciated the substantial increase in capital expenditure at the plant, noting that IISCO had achieved a capital expenditure of ₹1,860 crore during FY 2025-26, compared to ₹689 crore in the previous financial year.

Kumaraswamy stressed that worker safety would remain the Government's foremost priority. He Said, "Nothing is more important than the life and well-being of every worker. I am pleased to see IISCO embracing digital technologies and AI-enabled safety interventions that are transforming it into a safer, smarter and more efficient steel plant."

He said the achievements of IISCO reflected the dedication of its workforce and aligned perfectly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

"Every worker and every officer at IISCO should know that your hard work is recognised and deeply valued. India's journey towards becoming a developed nation will be realised through the collective efforts of institutions like IISCO and the people who power them every day."

The Union Minister also held a detailed interaction with representatives of various labour unions at the plant. During the meeting, labour representatives placed before him several concerns relating to employees' welfare, working conditions and other operational issues.

Kumaraswamy patiently heard their grievances and assured them that all genuine issues would be examined sympathetically and resolved at the earliest through appropriate institutional mechanisms.

"The welfare of our employees remains at the heart of the steel sector's progress. A motivated and secure workforce is indispensable for achieving sustainable industrial growth," he said.

During the visit, Smt. Agnimitra Paul, Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal, called on the Union Minister at the IISCO Steel Plant. The two leaders discussed the importance of stronger Centre–State coordination in accelerating industrial development, strengthening the steel sector, attracting investments and generating employment opportunities. They also exchanged views on harnessing the full potential of IISCO Steel Plant to further West Bengal's industrial growth and contribute to India's expanding steel ecosystem.

Kumaraswamy emphasised that close cooperation between the Centre and the States was essential for unlocking India's manufacturing potential and achieving the nation's long-term industrial goals. Concluding his visit, the Union Minister reiterated the Government of India's commitment to modernising public sector steel plants, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities and building globally competitive steel infrastructure. He expressed confidence that IISCO Steel Plant would continue to scale greater heights and emerge as one of the country's leading centres of excellence in steel production while contributing significantly to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

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AG

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