The Press Information Bureau said on 12 Jul 2026: D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday commenced his three-day visit to West Bengal with an extensive review of the IISCO Steel Plant (ISP), Burnpur, one of the country's oldest and most significant integrated steel plants under the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The visit covered a comprehensive assessment of the plant's ongoing expansion projects, production facilities, infrastructure, sustainability initiatives and workforce welfare, reaffirming the Government of India's commitment to strengthening India's public sector steel ecosystem under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The Minister began his visit with an inspection of the COB-12 (Stamp Charge Coke Oven Battery) Project, one of the flagship capacity augmentation initiatives at IISCO. Senior officials briefed him on the progress of the project, including the Battery Proper, Coke Dry Cooling Plant (CDQ), By-Product Plant and advanced environmental protection systems that are expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency while promoting sustainable steel production.
Reviewing the project, Kumaraswamy emphasised that timely completion of strategic expansion projects would play a crucial role in strengthening India's steel manufacturing capabilities.
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"India's journey towards becoming a global steel powerhouse depends not only on expanding capacity but also on building modern, sustainable and technologically advanced steel plants. Every strategic investment we make today strengthens the foundation of a self-reliant India," the Union Minister said.
As part of his visit, Kumaraswamy inaugurated a newly constructed Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) Water Reservoir with a storage capacity of 84,000 cubic metres, developed to meet the water requirements of COB-10 while also supporting the future 4.08 MTPA Expansion Project at IISCO Steel Plant.
Officials informed the Minister that the integrated system comprises a newly constructed Booster Pump House, a dedicated Pump House for COB-10 and a Process Water Pump House, currently under construction, which will establish a closed-loop water circulation system to maximise water conservation, minimise losses and significantly improve operational efficiency.
The Minister described the project as an important step towards sustainable industrial infrastructure. "Resource efficiency and environmental responsibility must go hand in hand with industrial growth. Projects like these demonstrate how modern infrastructure can simultaneously improve operational performance and conserve precious natural resources," he observed.
