Tata Sponge Iron Ltd.
Top-notch credentials, cutting-edge capabilities, an unwavering commitment to quality & environment and high ethical standards — these are the key characteristics that have enabled Tata Sponge to create a niche among DRI units in India.
Tata Sponge, which has its manufacturing facility at Bilaipada (in Joda Block of Keonjhar District in Orissa), was initially set up as a joint venture company between Tata Steel and the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Limited (IPICOL). It has moved on since, becoming an associate company of Tata Steel following the former’s acquisition of IPICOL’s stake in 1991.
The origins of Tata Sponge can be traced to a groundbreaking effort by Tata Steel to industrialise a backward area of Orissa. Tata Steel proposed to do this by introducing an innovative technology for making sponge iron - Tisco Direct Reduction (TDR), developed by its Research and Development Division.
Product Capacity
The plant commissioned by Tata Sponge was initially designed to facilitate a production capacity of 90,000 TPA, which was enhanced to 1,20,000 TPA during 1990-91. Later, to cater to the growing demand of quality sponge iron, Tata Sponge increased its capacity by adding a second kiln of equivalent capacity in 1998-99. A third kiln of 150,000 TPA capacity was commissioned in 2005-06.
In December, 2001 Tata Sponge commissioned a 7.5 MW captive power plant to produce electricity from the waste heat of exit gases ofits Kiln No.2.This helped the company to become self sufficient in power. A second power plant of 18.5 MW fed by the waste heat generated by Kiln No. 1 & 3 was commissioned in November, 2006.