A REVIEW ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF STEEL PLANTS IN INDIA

Abstract

The steel industry being highly energy intensive in nature is one the major consumers of energy. The iron and steel industry is the largest energy consuming manufacturing sector in the world. It is therefore that the question of fuel or energy has been of the highest importance in steel making, and one can boldly claim that all other conditions remaining constant, saving or wasting of fuel can make the difference between a profit or a loss of a steel plant. Energy conservation in steel plants is very crucial to ensure the competitiveness of the steel producing industries and to minimise environmental impacts. India's leading iron and steel companies, scored averages at best in Centre for Science and environment green rating test. The Indian iron and steel sector's energy consumption of 6.6 GCal per tonne, is 50 per cent higher than the global best practice. The integrated steel plants in India have the opportunities to strengthen their operations and minimise energy losses and wastages to reduce specific energy consumption by 5-6%. To reduce the gaps between India and developed countries we have to follow the technological advancement and implementation of innovative strategies at every stage of the operation of steel plants. The specific energy consumption in the Indian steel industry is high compared to that in advanced countries. Data for four integrated steel plants in India have been analysed. World crude steel production reached 1.621 million tones (Mt) in 2015. To meet the needs of our growing population, steel use is projected to increase by 1.5 times that of present level by 2050.