(a) whether the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is planning to spend Rs. 5000 crore during the Tenth Five Year Plan for its technology upgradation;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the ongoing projects and the projects which were granted in-principle approval and proposed future projects under SAIL; and
(d) the funds allocated/ to be allocated and spent in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY)
(a)&(b): During the 10th Plan, SAIL has planned capital expenditure of about Rs. 5000 crore for Addition, Modification & Replacement (AMR) schemes, which are mainly for maintaining the health of the plants. The major projects of the 10th Plan mainly includes Long Rails facilities and Billet Caster at Bhilai Steel Plant(BSP); Finishing Mill and Bloom Caster at Durgapur Steel Plant(DSP); Continuous Casting Facilities at Bokaro Steel Plant(BSL); Upgradation of ERW Pipe Plant at Rourkela Steel Plant(RSP); Revamping of Cold Rolling Mills at BSL & RSP; and Rebuilding of Coke Oven Batteries.
(c) At present, there are 20 ongoing projects of about Rs. 629 Crores which are in progress. The major ongoing projects include Upgradation of Electrical Resistance Welded (ERW) Pipe Plant at RSP, Long Rails facilities at BSP and Reheating Furnace No. 2 at BSL. Further, at present there are 13 projects, which have been approved `in-principle`. Such major projects include Rebuilding of Coke Oven Battery No. 1 at RSP and Rebuilding of Coke Oven Battery No. 5 at BSL. Besides, the other major AMR projects planned to be considered in future, depending upon funds availability & techno-economics shall be mainly as per 10th Plan.
(d) The amount spent during 2002-03(i.e. 1st year of 10th Plan) till Oct` 02 is Rs. 107 Crore as against the Revised Estimate(RE: 2002-03) of Rs. 350 Crore.