RSP REGISTERS BEST EVER ANNUAL PERFORMANCE SINCE INCEPTION

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Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) of the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) ended the fiscal 2002-03 on a promising note registering best-ever annual performance since inception in all its activities. Its production and despatches attained new peaks. Production of hot metal at 1.64 million tonnes (MT), continuous cast slabs at 1.47 MT, HR Coils at 1.29 MT and total saleable steel at 1.5 MT surpassed all past performance levels. It is now for the second year in succession, RSP has recorded best growth rates for major items among the SAIL plants. In the last quarter of 2002-03 the steel plant recorded cash profit continuously in all three months. The plant during the year has fulfilled its commitment for supply of plates, HR Coils, CR Coils and CRNO to China and other countries.

The performance of RSP is backed up by improved performance in all production units during the year 2002-03. The best-ever annual production has been recorded in Sinter Plant-II, Total Sinter, Hot Metal, CCM-I and CCM-II ,HR Coils (Total), HR Coils (Sale), CRNO and total saleable steel. All the modernization units operated at 100% and more capacity utilization for the last five months. Raw material despatches from Ore Bedding & Blending Plant to primary production zones at 4.54 million tonnes surpassed all previous levels of performance.