Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy Reviews Steelmaking at Salem Steel Plant
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy visited the Salem Steel Plant and reviewed its full-scale operations, calling steel "the backbone of national development." Emphasising the importance of responsible growth, he said, “From infrastructure to innovation, our goal is growth with responsibility.”
During his visit, the Minister witnessed the entire steel production cycle—from raw scrap to molten metal and finished slabs. He toured key operational areas such as the Scrapyard, Steel Melting Shop, Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), and Slab Caster, and observed advanced machinery like the Torch Cutting Machine and cold rolling mill in action.
Applauding the plant’s efficiency and advanced systems, Shri Kumaraswamy said, “The level of technological sophistication and discipline I’ve seen here is commendable. This plant reflects the true spirit of Make in India.”
The Electric Arc Furnace-based production at Salem Steel Plant also supports India’s decarbonisation goals by enabling cleaner, more sustainable steelmaking.
Focus on Stainless Steel Applications Across Sectors
Shri Kumaraswamy also visited the Cold Rolling Mill, where premium-quality stainless steel is produced for wide-ranging uses. The plant contributes to multiple national priorities by supplying material used in:
- Stainless steel pipes
- Railway Wagons
- Construction of Bridges
- Submersible pump components
- Coin blanks
- SS roof sheets
- Domestic LPG cylinders
“The finished products emerging from this plant touch millions of lives every day from homes to industries,” he stated.
These outputs serve critical sectors such as railways, Defense, energy, infrastructure, and home utilities making Salem Steel Plant a cornerstone in India’s stainless steel ecosystem.
High-Level Review Meeting Held to Enhance Profitability and Capacity
The visit concluded with a high-level review meeting chaired by the Minister along with CMD SAIL, JS Steel, ED Salem Plant which focused on transforming the Salem Steel Plant into a profitable and high-capacity unit. The discussions addressed key bottlenecks, explored strategic interventions, and prioritised increasing production in speciality steel, a segment vital for defence, railways, aerospace, and precision engineering.
“We are committed to revitalising this strategic asset. Speciality steel is the future, and Salem Steel plant can become more cost-efficient by using renewable energy which includes solar and wind. There should be full capacity utilisation and deciding on the final product mix” said Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy.
