India: NMDC to Start Production at its Nagarnar Coke Oven Plant Shortly

State-run iron ore miner- National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) will soon start heating coke oven and likely to start production this month at Nagarnar Steel plant which is being built in the southern region of Chhattisgarh with the cost over INR 15,500 crore.

The installation of the coke oven at NMDC's Nagarnar plant has been completed recently. It is built on Russian Giprokoks company's technology and has been installed by Bhilai Engineering Corporation with the cost of INR 1,978 crores.

Confirming this information, NMDC's Chairman-Cum-Managing Director N Baijendra Kumar expressed that the coke oven is all set to start and heating can be initiated any day this month. To start heating coke oven, a date has been sought from the Union Steel Minister. The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh will also be present on this occasion.

Establishment of coke oven is a major development for NMDC's Niagara Plant as it is one of the most sensitive and delicate part of the steel plant. With the coal coming out, the gas has to be handled very carefully. Production of hot metal can be started only after successful installation of the coke oven.

NMDC is commissioning greenfield steel plant at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh with a capacity of 3 MnT which is anticipated to commission by FY19.