In a groundbreaking development for sustainable steel production, SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), in collaboration with the Research & Development Centre for Iron & Steel (RDCIS), has successfully manufactured and utilized sludge bricks as a replacement for scrap in steel making.

Under the leadership of Director Incharge BSL  B K Tiwari, Executive Director (HR) with additional charge of ED (Works)  Rajan Prasad, and Executive Director (RDCIS) Sandip Kar, the joint team developed these innovative sludge bricks by recycling high-iron bearing wastes such as mill scale and sludge generated during the steel production process. On June 15, these bricks were charged into the converters of Steel Melting Shop (SMS)-II at BSL, marking a significant milestone in the steel industry.

This initiative addresses the critical challenge of waste management and resource optimization in steel manufacturing. High-iron bearing wastes, which are a byproduct of steel production, have now been effectively recycled, contributing to a more sustainable production process. With internal scrap becoming scarce and the cost of external scrap on the rise, the use of sludge bricks offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative.

DIC B K Tiwari highlighted the significance of this achievement, noting that it not only reduces production costs but also aligns with BSL's broader goals of decarbonization and promoting a circular economy. The successful trials of these "green bricks" suggest they could soon become a staple in BSL's steel production processes.

Key personnel involved in this pioneering effort include  Arvind Kumar, CGM (SMS II),  PK Baisakhiya, CGM (Maintenance), Manohar Lal, CGM (Quality),  A K Mistry, CGM (Iron & HoPC RDCIS Bokaro Centre), Deep Kr. Saxena, GM (BSL), P Marandi, GM (BSL), P.S Meena, GM (BSL), NP Srivastava, GM (ECS), Santosh Kumar, DGM (RDCIS Bokaro),  Smita Toppo, Manager (RDCIS Bokaro), Abhijit Das, Manager (RDCIS Bokaro), Chandan Kumar, Manager (RDCIS Bokaro), and other team members from RDCIS and BSL.

This successful implementation of sludge bricks sets a precedent for other steel plants to follow, heralding a new era of sustainable steel manufacturing.