(a) whether Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) and other public sector steel plants are facing
stiff competition with the private sector steel companies and global steel companies;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to enable the public sector steel companies to face
the competition?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL(SHRI A. SAI PRATHAP)
(a)to(c): Yes, Sir. The steel sector is deregulated in the country and the public sector steel
plants, including the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam
Limited (RINL), are facing competition from both private sector steel companies and global steel
companies. In order to face this competition,both SAIL and RINL have undertaken ambitious
expansion and modernization programmes. SAil`s programme is underway for enhancing its annual hot
metal production capacity from the present level of around 14 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to
26.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), of which 23.46 million tonnes per annum is to be attained in
the first phase. Similarly RINL`s ongoing programme seeks to enhance its annual liquid steel
production capacity from the present level of 3.0 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 6.3 million
tonnes per annum (MTPA). Besides capacity enhancement, the growth plans of SAil and RINl will
enhance efficiency by elimination of technological obsolescence, enrich product mix and improve
techno-economic parameters like energy efficiency and pollution control.