Rourkela, Odisha: Union Minister of Steel & Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy visited SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant on 18 November 2025 and formally inaugurated the new, state-of-the-art Caster #4 at Steel Melting Shop-2. The two-day visit — attended by Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram and senior SAIL and state officials — included inspections of the Pellet Plant project, Coke Oven Battery-7 and Hot Strip Mill-2.
Welcome and plant overview
The Minister was received at Rourkela Airport with a Guard of Honour by the CISF RSP unit and escorted to the plant by senior management and local officials. The delegation began the visit at the Model Room of the Learning & Development Department, where they were briefed on the plant’s operations and recent upgrades.
Caster #4 commissioned
At Steel Melting Shop-2, Minister Kumaraswamy inaugurated Caster #4 and observed slab casting operations. He congratulated the RSP collective for the successful roll-out of the project and reiterated the central government’s support. “The Government of India, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is committed to providing all necessary support for the growth and development of Rourkela Steel Plant,” he said during the visit.
Project inspections and future plans
Following the commissioning, the Ministers toured project sites including the Pellet Plant and Coke Oven Battery-7. The visit concluded with an inspection of Hot Strip Mill-2, where engineers outlined production capacities, commissioning timelines and safety protocols. At each location, officials briefed the visitors on current status and future plans.
Leadership and local officials present
SAIL’s Chairman-cum-Managing Director Shri Amarendu Prakash, Director-In-Charge RSP Shri Alok Verma, local MPs and senior state officials accompanied the Ministers throughout the tour. Senior executives from RSP — including EDs responsible for HR, Mines Development, Works, Materials Management, Mines and Projects — were present to discuss operational details and workforce readiness.
Economic and strategic significance
Rourkela Steel Plant is a strategic heavy-industry asset for eastern India; commissioning advanced casters and upgrading downstream mills are central to improving product quality and throughput. Officials said the new caster will enhance slab production capacity and support better supply to downstream rolling mills, which in turn feeds the construction, automotive and infrastructure sectors.
Stakeholder reaction
Shri Jual Oram praised the plant collective for their sustained efforts and recalled his longstanding association with RSP. Shri Amarendu Prakash thanked the visiting dignitaries and highlighted the teamwork that made the project delivery possible. Local authorities emphasised that such upgrades also generate employment and boost regional industry linkages.
Security, safety and workforce
The visit highlighted safety protocols and CISF security arrangements at the plant. Executives briefed the Ministers on workforce training, safety certifications and the Learning & Development Department’s role in skill enhancement for over 10,000 personnel associated with regional operations.
Next steps and government support
Ministry officials affirmed continued central support for capital projects at SAIL and encouraged timely coordination between SAIL, state authorities and vendors to ensure effective commissioning of remaining project components. The Ministers’ visit underscores the government’s focus on strengthening domestic steel capacity and modernising public sector units.
For more details on SAIL and Rourkela initiatives, readers can consult the official SAIL website and the Press Information Bureau release summarising the visit and inauguration.
