The operations of Low Shaft Furnace Pilot Plant at the National Metallurgical Laboratory for the production of Pig iron with raw materials from Rajasthan

Abstract

Owing to meagre known reserves of cooking coals in India relation to rich and classical iron ore resources and their occurrence over a small region in Bengal-Bihar border the production of pig iron employing non-coking coals is both a metallurgical and national necessity. As such, establishment of small iron-making plants in suitable parts of India where requisite raw materials occur offers decentralization of iron-making plants, exploitation of regional raw materials and thereby relieve the load and congestion on the railways and transport subsidy which is included in the controlled sale price of pig iron prevalent throughout the country. Such regional production of foundry grades of pig iron will satisfy the State’s requirements of iron foundries and will permit an economic interwoven industrial structure.