Report on the operations of Low Shaft Furnace Pilot Plant at the National Metallurgical Laboratory for the production of Pig iron with Iron ore and Limestone from Nepal

Nepal has no iron and steel industry and the limited requirement of these materials is met by imports. The present consumption of iron and steel is about 1200-1500 tonnes a year and nearly half of it consumed in Kathmandu Valley. It is believed that with the availability of iron and steel, other industries will readily develop with consequent economic progress and improvement of standard of living of the country. Based on the availability of iron ore, limestone and timber from forest, and to ascertain the feasibility of installing a small iron smelting plant ,Shri P.E. Malla, Director and Shri M.N.Rana, Metallurgist, Nepal Bureau of Mines visited the National Metallurgical Laboratory to study the operations of 15 tonnes/day Low shaft Furnace Pilot Plant and explore the possibilities of conducting smelting trials with their iron ore and limestone, employing nut coke as fuel and reductant.