December 2011 - SIMA

CONCLUSION:The salient features of above study are as follows:1. Usage of A grade DRI Pellets for steel making ininduction furnaces pose problem of thick slagformation, higher heat duration, higher specificpower consumption and lower yield of liquidmaterial due to less availability of FeO contentas compared to iron ore based DRI.2. Blending of 10-15% B grade sponge iron incharge mix with A grade DRI Pellets helped inresolving the above operational and technicalconstraints.3. Beneficiation of iron ore fines for making steelgrade DRI Pellets is a must for improving thequality of Pellets and smooth operation ofinduction furnaces. Further good quality Pelletswill have other benefits like:uuuuuProduction cost of sponge iron atcomparatively attractive level.Higher Fe and less gangue content.Higher tumbler index: +95% and thus lowfines generation in Kilns.High porosity of 25-30% facilitates fastreduction.Longer campaign life of Kilns.Use of pellet will be popularized fast if themanufacturers take care of their product by usingbeneficiated ore fines/dust for pellet making to ensurebetter quality output having low gangue contents andother impurities but rich in desired characteristics.To ensure the quality it could be suggested to redraftthe relevant BIS standard and should be subjectedto mass following by the user industry. But,unfortunately present manufacturers mostly areinclined to take short term view taking short cut togenerate inferior quality to the detriment of therealizable prospect.Further, it could be underlined that Steel makingthrough Electric Furnace route (EAF/IF) will continueto hold an Important position as a vital contributor tothe over all growth of the steel industry and so will bethe sponge iron industry. Conversely, it could bestated that EAF/IF process of steel making will pushup the growth further subjected to the challenges, asstated above briefly, are addressed properly in abefitting and timely manner by the businesspromoters with the support of Government authoritiesand taking active interest in experimentations andevolving process development by introducing newerraw materials like pellet to stay high.REFERENCES:(1) Sponge Iron Manufacturers Association (SIMA)reports and publications.(2) Ernst & Young research on sustainability ofsponge iron industry reports.(3) All India Induction Furnace Association (AIIFA)reports and publications.(4) Mineral and Metal Review Publication dated 18-07-2011 on “Indian Pelletization Plan”.(5) Published paper “Perspective on Raw Materialsfor steel Making in India” by MECON Ltd. in steelworld vol. 17 No. 4-April 2011.Estimation of Demand for Iron Ore during 12th FY Plan Period(Figures in Million Tonnes)2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17Crude SteelProduction 73.7 85.9 94.5 104.0 114.5 125.9Pig Iron Production 6.1 6.9 7.7 8.5 9.4 10.0Total Iron OreRequirement 115.0 135.7 149.4 166.7 185.2 206.2(Source: Report of the Working Group on Steel Industry for the Twelth Five Year Plan, Ministry of Steel)DECEMBER-2011/20