Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Union Steel Minister, officially opened a Rs 149 crore SAIL (Steel Authority of India Ltd.) beneficiation project at Kanker in Chhattisgarh. The SAIL Silica Reduction Plant, which is located near the company's Dalli iron ore mines, was essentially launched by the minister.

In his speech, Scindia stated that the new plant is a significant development since it will enable the steel manufacturer to use the low-grade ore from the Dalli mines for beneficiation.

Around 80 per cent of the reserves of the iron ore mine has been utilized, he said adding certain issues were coming in the utilisation of the remaining 20 per cent reserve like the Fe or iron content was below 60 per cent and silica content was as high as 10 per cent. The plant will improve the Fe content to 62-64 per cent and bring down the silica content to 2-3 per cent.

SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash there was a need to refine iron ore of size less than 1 mm to achieve the desired grade for effective usage in the blast furnace at the company's Bhilai Steel Plant.

The plant has been set up with an investment of around Rs 149 crore and is equipped with State-of-the-art beneficiation equipment. It will enhance the iron ore supply to BSP thereby increasing annual production from the blast furnaces, reducing coke consumption and carbon emission, he told.