28-Oct-2022: SAIL signs Agreement with AAI to facilitate commercial operations at Rourkela Airport under the RCS UDAN scheme.

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI), signed an Operation and Management (O & M) agreement today in New Delhi to facilitate commercial operations from Rourkela in the state of Odisha.

SAIL, in 2018, had signed a MOU for the use of its own airport, under the UDAN scheme, for the operation of commercial flights. Now, SAIL has signed the O&M contract with AAI, through its Rourkela Steel Plant, to facilitate the commencement of commercial flights from Rourkela. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has provided financial support for the up-gradation of this airport. The government of Odisha will provide the security, fire, and ambulance services, besides helping with other local clearances. AAI, on behalf of SAIL-Rourkela Steel Plant, will operate and manage the airport.

The airport will provide relief to all air travellers from the industrial town of Rourkela and the surrounding areas. The commencement of air services is also important in view of the forthcoming Hockey World Cup, where 20 out of the total 44 matches are being held at Rourkela in January 2023. This global event will witness a huge footfall in Rourkela during the period and the requirement for air connectivity to the city will be a major necessity for logistical reasons.

SAIL, one of the largest steel companies in the country and a ‘Maharatna’ CPSE, has been actively participating in the development of peripheral areas around its production facilities. This endeavour, in the public interest, is likely to boost economic activity in this region.

28-Sep-2022: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) Posts Best Ever Production Performance of 18.733 Million Ton Hot Metal & 17.37 Million Ton Crude Steel During 2022 Fiscal

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) held its 50th Annual General Meeting, today at Company’s headquarter in  New Delhi. Smt. Soma Mondal, Chairman, SAIL addressed the shareholders in the meeting, held through a virtual platform.

 In her address Smt. Mondal highlighted the achievements of the Company during fiscal 2021-22  underlined  the future action plan of the Company. SAIL has posted the best ever production performance by producing 18.733 million tonne (MT) of hot metal and 17.366 MT of crude Steel during FY’22.  For the first time the Company entered  into the elite club of Indian Companies having a turnover above rupees one  lakh crore. The turnover of Rs. 1.03 lakh crore during FY’22 saw substantial growth of more than 50% over the previous best of Rs.68452 crore achieved during FY’21. The increase in turnover coupled with improved operational performance helped the Company achieve its highest ever numbers in terms of profitability.

Smt Mondal described the year  2022 as a milestone year for the country as India completed 75 glorious years of independence and  denoted it as an extraordinary milestone in the journey of modern India which assumes further significance in the light of India’s preparedness to gravitate forward into India 2.0. SAIL  is prepared to contribute to this growth story of India by capitalizing on the intrinsic strength and resources at disposal , the Chairman added.

Smt Mondal highlighted  SAIL’s role as a conscientious ethical corporate and stated that the focus is on meeting the ESG goals. In times to come, SAIL would be making many more interventions to curtail carbon emission to meet global standards. With due emphasis on sustainability, the Company is continuously improving upon its processes, product basket, policies while building an ambitious roadmap for the future, the Chairman further stated.

23-May-2022: SAIL Celebrates Fifty years of Incorporation with a Special Logo

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the Maharatna steelmaking public sector unit, is celebrating the company’s fifty years of incorporation this year in 2022. SAIL was incorporated on 24th January, 1973.

SAIL’s legacy of fifty years is being celebrated with the launch of a new commemorative logo and will be followed by several events to be held all across the company throughout the year. The design of the commemorative logo retains the essence of SAIL’s company logo while bringing out the spirit of fifty years of journey of this company. The logo was launched by Smt. Soma Mondal, Chairman, SAIL in presence of the Company’s directors here today.

This feat is a testimony of the company’s sustained efforts and initiatives in ensuring better stakeholders’ engagement and contribution in nation building over the years.

14-Sep-2017: SAIL’s retail sales gets boost with SAIL’s Gaon Ki Ore campaign

Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), is running a nation-wide campaign "SAIL steel – Gaon Ki ore" which is aimed at boosting steel consumption in country. This has started to reflect positively through the dealer sales numbers, which recorded an 18% jump in the month of August 2017 over CPLY selling 91,000 tonnes of steel in the month. SAIL targets to sell 1 Million Tonnes steel through its dealer network this financial year and aims at doubling it in next three financial years.

SAIL had identified the potential of rural markets for enhancing steel consumption which is currently around 10 kgs per capita per year as against around 150 Kg per capita consumption in Urban India.

The Gaon Ki ore campaign is designed to familiarize end users at the Grass-root level, especially of rural areas, with innovative usage of SAIL steel and its applications and advantages in construction, household equipment, agriculture etc. Through engagement activities the audience are informed how using SAIL steel can increase durability, life, safety and longevity of any construction and product. SAIL’s product basket has branded products like SAIL TMT, SAIL Jyoti GP/GC sheets, Salem stainless utensils products in its basket which fit the rural requirements well and has popular acceptance.

Through this nation-wide campaign initiated at Nalbari, Assam, SAIL aims to cover more than 100 locations by the end of this year and within months of its inception around twenty workshops have already been conducted in various states. This new age marketing campaign strategically aims to develop a stronger link with consumers through direct engagement. All workshops of the campaign are designed to familiarize participants about SAIL’s production process, product range, applications and advantages and the interactive sessions are conducted in local language for easier connect with audience. SAIL Earth-Quake Resistant (EQR) TMT Rebars received special attention of the audience who were keen to know regarding the bendability of the EQR and its higher resistance to earthquakes.

Company’s recently held campaign at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh successfully involved a wide participation from locals and their families. Taking the buzz forward, SAIL organized another round in Palampur today, integrating it with an on-going exhibition on ‘Destination Himachal’ leveraging the crowd presence to raise awareness about steel consumption.

11-Oct-2022: NMDC Signs MoU with RailTel for ICT and Digital Solutions

Mining major NMDC and RailTel Corporation of India have entered into an agreement covering ICT and Digital Transformation Services of NMDC, both at its Corporate Offices and Mining Complexes.

An MoU to this effect was signed by Shri H Sundaram Prabhu, GM, NMDC and Shri Manohar Raja, Executive Director, RailTel in the presence of CMD,NMDC, Shri Sumit Deb at NMDC’s headquarters in Hyderabad on Monday.

CMD, NMDC Shri Sumit Deb said   that  this  partnership will focus on optimal utilization of resources and build mineral accountability, paving the way for a robust digital transformation in the mining sector. As India’s leading miner, NMDC has been an early adopter of automation and digitalization. Our collaboration with RailTel will accelerate this journey that we are already on .

Director (Finance) ,NMDC, Shri Amitava Mukherjee said that RailTel will provide Consultancy, Project Management and Execution services that will enhance efficiency and transparency. It is a huge step forward to keep NMDC in the top league.

This MoU builds on the partnership that NMDC already has with the National Railway Telecom which has been providing MPLS VPN at 11 of NMDC’s locations, and Internet Leased Lines (ILL) at 7 locations and High-Definition Video Conferencing solutions since 7 years.

21-Sep-2022: NMDC Wins National Awards For Excellence In CSR And Sustainability

NMDC, the country’s largest iron ore producer, has been conferred with National Awards for Excellence in CSR and Sustainability bestowed by ET Ascent in Bengaluru today. Company’s Director (Production) Shri Dilip Kumar Mohanty received the accolades presented to NMDC for Sustainable Income Generation and Best Overall CSR Excellence.

Commending his team’s meticulous efforts towards CSR and Sustainability, Shri Sumit Deb, CMD, NMDC said, “As the country’s mining major, NMDC is committed to shape a sustainable and resilient future for India. We are consulting with our stakeholders on every step and harnessing the power of technology at our mines to ensure growth for our company and the community.”

The mining major has invested decades in enhancing the quality of life of its host communities while ensuring that the development is socio-culturally sustainable. NMDC’s CSR Focus Areas - Education, Health, Skill Development, Infrastructure, and Safe Drinking Water are creating value and opportunities for people in the hinterlands of India. The company has demonstrated consciousness and commitment in its approach towards the environment. Known as the Eco-Friendly Miners, NMDC’s responsible mine planning has been lauded by the Indian Bureau of Mines with a 5 Star Rating to all its complexes.

Shri Dilip Kumar Mohanty expressed his gratitude to ET Ascent for honouring NMDC’s contribution towards the social and sustainable development of our nation. He said, “NMDC is working relentlessly to achieve our nation building goals of mineral security, sustainability and self-reliance.”

13-Aug-2022: NMDC & FICCI to organise Conference on Indian Minerals & Metal Industry

National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (NMDC), Country’s largest Iron Ore producer, a CPSE under Ministry of Steel and FICCI will be organizing a conference on the Indian minerals and metals industry on the theme ‘Transition Towards 2030 & Vision 2047’ on 23rd and 24th August at  New Delhi.

The two-day event is being organised in commemoration of the 75 glorious years of India's Independence and the ongoing “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Steel and Mines. The key objective of the event is to have deliberations on the roadmap for the minerals & metals sector to achieve the ‘Vision 2047’.

The programme will be graced by speakers from across industry, policy and academia. Global and domestic producers, mineral organisations, policymakers, mine equipment manufacturers, country heads of global corporates, Central and State Government officials among others would be present and address the conference.

Addressing the curtain raiser event, Shri Sumit Deb, Chair, FICCI Mining Committee and Chairman-Cum- Managing Director, NMDC Ltd noted that given the vast mineral resource base in the country and the evolving and easing business and regulatory environment, international giants too are showing interest in the country’s mines and mineral industry along with domestic players.

“Collaboration between all relevant stakeholders including industry, Centre and states is the key and the upcoming conference will work as a platform to strengthen the collaboration and chalk out the plan ahead.

Addressing the challenges and obstacles and finding out solutions for them is the key to progress and this conference would provide the right platform for that.” Mr. Deb said.

“Mining sector in India is going through a paradigm shift with reforms to ease the business ecosystem and make the country self-reliant.

The upcoming conference would also have deliberations on new age minerals, digitalization & automation and other technological innovations. The programme will also witness a country panel discussion on the future of minerals and metals worldwide.

The conference would enable an understanding global commodities market for minerals and metals, highlight the inter-linkage between mineral development and economic growth, the developments in the international markets that can impact the Indian minerals and metals industry and identify opportunities in the Indian minerals and metals industry among others.

India is well endowed with most of the minerals and produces 95 minerals, including fuel, atomic, metallic, non-metallic and minor minerals. Being unexplored, the exploration and mining companies have a lot to offer to the country.

2-Jun-2022: NMDC Records Continuous Growth in Production

India’s mining major National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), under Ministry of Steel is continuing on the growth trajectory, produced 3.2 Million Tonnes (MnT) and sold 2.65 MnT in the second month of FY23.

Iron ore production in May 2022 was 14.3% higher than the 2.8 Million Tonnes (MnT )produced in May 2021. NMDC’s cumulative production upto May 2022 stood at 6.35 (Million Tonnes) MnT, a 7.4% growth from the cumulative production of 5.91 (Million Tonnes) MnT upto May 2021. The largest iron ore producer of India sold 5.77(Million Tonnes) MnT in FY23, upto May 2022 this fiscal.

Congratulating his team on this performance, Shri Sumit Deb, CMD, NMDC said, “Our consistent growth in production has not only made NMDC the fastest growing Iron Ore mining Company in India but also the most consistent supplier to domestic steel sector. We have strengthened our core by welcoming a fleet of new age technology and digital interventions to our business.”

12-Apr-2022: NMDC Wins two Awards at 80th SKOCH Summit 2022

The largest iron ore producer of India, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), under Ministry of Steel awarded one gold and one silver award in the 80th SKOCH Summit and SKOCH Awards recently conducted by SKOCH, New Delhi. The theme for the SKOCH Summit was ‘State of BFSI & PSUs’.

NMDC won the Gold Award in the category social responsibility for the project ‘Promotion of Technical Education & Skill Development in Dantewada District through NMDC ITI Bhansi’ and the Silver Award in the category digital inclusion for the ‘Project Kalpataru’ for ERP implementation. The awards were received by Shri Amitava Mukherjee, Director (Finance) via video conferencing on behalf of Chairman and Managing Director, Shri Sumit Deb.

The SKOCH Awards were given to the winners based on the application submitted on their website, presentation to jury followed by three rounds of popular online voting and second round of jury evaluation. In addition to above, NMDC also received the 3 SKOCH – Order of Merit Awards for its exemplary efforts in ensuring seamless digitalization in Project Kalpataru, for its expansive CSR efforts in promoting technical education and skill development in the remote districts of Dantewada and “Project Safety First” in the category Response to COVID.

Congratulating the team on this achievement, Shri Sumit Deb, CMD, NMDC said, “I would like to thank SKOCH for recognizing NMDC’s efforts in serving the nation - be it in helping transform the lives of the youth in Dantewada through skill development and training or in integrating digitalization in our production processes for efficient operations. NMDC’s unique amalgamation of hard work to meet raw material demands with a conscious thrust on positive social evolution is what makes me a proud member of Team NMDC.”

19-Mar-2022: NMDC signs MoU with IIT Kharagpur for Drone-Based Mineral Exploration

National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (NMDC), Country’s largest Iron Ore producer, a CPSE under Ministry of Steel signed a MoU on Wednesday with IIT Kharagpur for drone-based mineral exploration. NMDC has been exploring minerals for six decades for a wide range of minerals such as Copper, Rock phosphate, Limestone, magnesite, Diamond, Tungsten and Beach sands amongst others right from the reconnaissance G4 level to the detailed G1 Level of UNFC.

The MoU for ‘Drone-Based Mineral Exploration’ was signed on a virtual platform which was attended by Shri Sumit Deb, CMD; Shri Amitava Mukherjee, Director (Finance); Shri Somnath Nandi, Director (Technical); Shri D.K. Mohanty, Director (Production) from NMDC and professors from IIT Kharagpur. The said MoU was signed on behalf of NMDC by Shri DK Mohanty, Director (Production) and on behalf of IIT Kharagpur by Prof. S.P. Sharma, HoD, Department of Geology & Geophysics and Prof. Samir K Pal, HoD, Department of Mining Engineering.

Shri Sumit Deb, CMD, NMDC said, “NMDC would be the first CPSE in India to conduct Drone-based Geophysical Surveys and Hyperspectral Studies for Mineral Exploration in the country. NMDC’s tie up with IIT-Kharagpur will open a new chapter and set a benchmark in the field of mineral exploration for the nation.”

NMDC is conducting exploration for various minerals in the State of Madhya Pradesh and also in the Beloda-Belmundi block in Chhattisgarh for Diamonds. NMDC is also the first CPSE to use Space Geophysics in Central Indian Diamond Province and the first to use online monitoring of exploration of data on the BHUVAN platform. NMDC is increasingly relying on technological innovation and digitalization of its database related to exploration and mining.

With the launch of a policy on Drones, the Government has taken the first step to regulate and monitor drone usage and operations in India which are currently being used in the fields of agriculture, urban planning, forestry, mining, disaster management, surveillance, transport etc.

NMDC and IIT Kharagpur would develop spectral products, methods and algorithms for exploration using the Drone (UAV) for mining. The collaboration between NMDC and IIT Kharagpur would further lead to the development of software spectral tools for mineral excavation and capacity building programs on mining technology.

19-Mar-2022: NMDC creates history with 40 Million Tonnes (MT) Iron Ore Production

National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (NMDC), Country’s largest Iron Ore producer, a CPSE under Ministry of Steel became the first company in the country to cross 40 million tonnes (MT) iron ore production in a year. From a production of 4 MTPA in the late 1960s to 40 million tonnes now, the growth trajectory of the largest iron ore producer of the country has been exceptional. Starting from 4 million tonnes in 1969-70, NMDC crossed

10 million tonnes in 1977-78, added another ten million by 2004-05, crossed 30 million tonnes within a decade and has now breached the 40 million mark.

Keeping pace with the constant surge in the domestic iron ore demand, the company has been rolling out ambitious expansion plans and capex outlay in pursuit of enhanced production. In recent times, NMDC has adopted cutting-edge technology and built a transformational digital infrastructure to overcome Covid induced slowdowns and the cyclical volatilities in the sector. Growing from scale to strength, the company has achieved the milestone of 40 million tonnes iron ore production on the back of steady fundamentals and a visionary workforce.

Congratulating the team on the historic achievement, Shri Sumit Deb, Chairman and Managing Director, NMDC said, “NMDC’s ground-breaking achievement of becoming the first iron ore mining company in India to cross 40 MT is an illustrious display of its ability to accept challenges despite all odds. The company’s perseverance and consistency has paid off and I congratulate the team for this historic accomplishment. I am confident that we will continue to cross many more milestones on our way to fulfil Nation’s vision of #AtmanirbharBharat. This achievement also shows that we are on the track to become a 100 MTPA company by 2030.”

It is pertinent to mention that the company has set a target of becoming a 100 MTPA company by 2030. The CPSE also plans to leverage their expertise in moving towards a multi-mineral outlook with coal, diamond, gold and other strategic minerals of national interest in their portfolio.