Union Minister for Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday, 13 July 2025 inaugurated a newly constructed Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) water reservoir at the IISCO Steel Plant (ISP) in Burnpur, West Bengal, marking the start of a three-day review visit to the facility. The reservoir, with a storage capacity of 84,000 cubic metres, is designed to meet the water needs of COB-10 and support the plant's forthcoming 4.08 MTPA expansion project under Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Steel.

What the New Infrastructure Covers

The integrated water management system comprises a newly built Booster Pump House, a dedicated Pump House for COB-10, and a Process Water Pump House currently under construction. Together, these units will establish a closed-loop water circulation system aimed at maximising water conservation, minimising losses, and improving operational efficiency across the plant.

Officials briefed the Union Minister on how the system is specifically engineered to serve both immediate production requirements and the long-term capacity ramp-up envisaged under IISCO's expansion roadmap.

Key Projects Reviewed During the Visit

Kumaraswamy began his inspection with the COB-12 (Stamp Charge Coke Oven Battery) Project, one of IISCO's flagship capacity augmentation initiatives. Senior officials updated him on the progress of the Battery Proper, Coke Dry Cooling Plant (CDQ), By-Product Plant, and advanced environmental protection systems — all expected to enhance operational efficiency while promoting sustainable steel production.

The Union Minister subsequently inspected the plant's blast furnace, reviewing its operational performance, production parameters, and ongoing modernisation work. He also visited the Blast Furnace Control Room, where he observed live operations and interacted with engineers and plant employees.

Production Performance and Capital Expenditure

Officials informed Kumaraswamy that IISCO achieved 2.9 million tonnes of hot metal production during FY 2025-26, reflecting sustained improvements in productivity. He also noted a significant jump in capital expenditure: the plant recorded a capex of ₹1,860 crore in FY 2025-26, up sharply from ₹689 crore in the previous financial year — nearly a 2.7x increase year-on-year.

A comprehensive review meeting chaired by the Union Minister was attended by SAIL Chairman and Managing Director Ashok Kumar Panda, the Director In-Charge of IISCO Steel Plant, Executive Directors, and other senior SAIL officials. Discussions covered production performance, modernisation projects, capacity expansion, sustainability, technology adoption, and future growth strategies.

Worker Safety and Digital Transformation

Kumaraswamy stressed that worker safety would remain the Union government's foremost priority. 'Nothing is more important than the life and well-being of every worker. I am pleased to see IISCO embracing digital technologies and AI-enabled safety interventions that are transforming it into a safer, smarter and more efficient steel plant,' he said.

Centre-State Coordination on Industrial Growth

During the visit, Agnimitra Paul, West Bengal Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, called on the Union Minister at the IISCO Steel Plant. The two leaders discussed the importance of stronger Centre-state coordination in accelerating industrial development, reinforcing the steel sector, attracting investment, and generating employment in the region. The visit underscores the Centre's stated commitment to strengthening India's public sector steel ecosystem at a time when domestic steel demand is on an upward trajectory.