Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy Unveils Plan to Double Rourkela Steel Plant Capacity to 9.8 Million Tonnes by 2030 – Indian PSU
In a significant boost to India’s steel sector, Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday announced an ambitious plan to double the capacity of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) to 9.8 million tonnes per annum by 2030. The announcement came during his visit to the country’s first Public Sector Integrated Steel Plant, followed by a high-level meeting with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Bhubaneswar.
Calling RSP a pillar of India’s steel journey, the Minister said it was a “proud moment” to visit a plant that has contributed immensely to nation-building for more than six decades. “RSP has not just operated but flourished. It stands as a major player and a foundation stone of our domestic steel industry,” he said, while congratulating the RSP collective for marked improvements in production, productivity, and techno-economics.
During the visit, the Minister inaugurated the modern 1 MTPA Slab Caster at Steel Melting Shop-2, constructed at a cost of about ₹1,100 crore. He also reviewed progress at the Coke Oven Battery-7 and the new Pellet Plant, which are currently under construction.
Highlighting the strengthening of raw material security, Kumaraswamy noted that the Odisha Group of Mines had registered over 5% growth in production this year and was set to cross 15 million tonnes in FY 2025–26.
Unveiling the plant’s expansion roadmap, he announced, “We are planning for RSP expansion—doubling the capacity at about ₹30,000 crore.” He added that an additional ₹9,000 crore would be invested for modernization to ensure the plant remains globally competitive and future-ready.
The Minister emphasised that the Ministry of Steel was working closely with the Odisha Government to ensure smooth progress of expansion activities. He said the increased capacity would generate large-scale employment for local youth, create more opportunities for MSMEs, and enhance community development. The upgradation, he noted, would also position RSP as a major producer of special and high-quality steel.
Kumaraswamy linked these developments with national priorities under the National Steel Policy, which targets achieving 300 million tonnes of steel capacity by 2030–31. He said reducing import dependence and boosting specialty steel through the PLI Scheme remain central to India’s steel growth mission.
Later in Bhubaneswar, the Union Minister met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to review the state’s steel and mining landscape, particularly RSP’s expansion. Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram and senior officials from both the Centre and State attended the meeting.
Describing the interaction as “fruitful,” Kumaraswamy said discussions focused on three key areas:
- The functioning and modernisation of RSP
- The planned expansion of the facility
- Measures to further increase Odisha’s steel and mining output
He added that Odisha—with its rich mineral resources and robust industrial base—remains a critical pillar of India’s steel ecosystem. The Chief Minister assured full cooperation from the State Government to support the Centre’s efforts. “The Chief Minister assured full support to achieve Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of reaching 300 MTPA steel capacity by 2030,” the Minister said.
The meeting reflects growing synergy between the Centre and the Odisha Government in accelerating industrial growth, improving infrastructure, and strengthening India’s overall steel capacity.
Reaffirming his confidence in Rourkela’s future, Kumaraswamy said, “Rourkela is going to be a premier steel hub of the country in the near future. The progress here will benefit not only the city but the entire state and the nation.”
