PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, July 21: Tata Steel Meramandali (TSM), located in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha, received the prestigious Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Award for Environmental Best Practices 2023 for its ground-breaking project, “Sustainable Utilization of LD Sludge in Pellet.”
The project has been recognized as the “Most innovative project” at the 10th edition of the award.
Amit Ranjan, Chief, Marketing and Sales, Industrial By-product Management Division (IBMD), Tata Steel; Ritesh Kumar, Head, Marketing & Business Development, IBMD, Tata Steel and Susavan Ghosal, Senior Manager, Sales & New Business Development, TSM received the award on behalf of TSM at a function held in Pune.
As part of its ongoing efforts to contribute to the circular economy and promote sustainable practices of waste recycling and reuse, TSM has been addressing the challenge of managing solid wastes generated from its steelworks.
One such waste is LD sludge, generated during the production of steel in a basic oxygen furnace (BOF). This was previously difficult to recycle due to its high zinc content.
However, the innovative approach adopted by TSM has revolutionized the handling of LD sludge by incorporating LD sludge into the pellet production process. TSM has not only found an effective solution for waste management but has also significantly improved operational efficiency.
Commenting on the award, Subodh Pandy, Vice President Operations, Tata Steel Meramandali, New Material Business and Graphene, said, “This honour recognises our efforts on innovation and sustainability in steelmaking, as we recycle and reuse LD sludge, reduce waste, save resources, lower emissions, and enhance competitiveness. We thank CII, our customers, partners, employees, and communities for their support and trust. We dedicate this award to them and to the green future of the steel industry in India.”
Through this pioneering effort, Tata Steel is leading the way in the steel industry for effective utilisation of waste LD Sludge, thereby reducing environmental impact.
Through this award, CII, in its endeavour to recognise, encourage, and support the efforts of the Indian industry in the conservation of natural resources and pollution prevention, has been recognising units that make significant and measurable contributions towards the development or use of cleaner technologies, processes, or practices for environmental protection.
