Research and Development Centre for Iron & Steel (RDCI&S), a division of Indian state-owned steel producer Steel Authority of
India Limited (
SAIL), has developed technology which will result in energy cost savings of least 10 percent, an official at
SAIL said on Wednesday, July 25.
The technology has been adopted on a pilot basis at the hot strip mill at
SAIL's Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and is expected to result in energy savings of $3.5 million per year, the official added.
The technology will also be offered for adoption by private sector steel producers and, according to RDCI&S, if all Indian steel producers were to accept it, it could lead to national energy cost savings of $25-28 million per year.
The technology developed by RDCI&S scientists involves application of lubricant to the rolling surface during hot rolling of steel coils, which reduces roll force and energy consumption by 10 percent and roll wear by 50 percent, the official said.
A hot rolling oil for the purpose has been jointly developed by RDCI&S and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country's largest oil refiner and marketer.