The Steel Authority of India ltd (SAIl) will be installing a new Ultrasonic Testing Machine (UTM) against replacement of the old machine at Rail Finishing Area of Rail & Structural Mill at the Bhilai Steel Plant(BSP) here, officials informed.
It may be recalled that the mega expansion and modernization of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) is underway which would raise the installed capacity for crude steel manufacturing from the present level of 4.81 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 7 MTPA, officials stated.
The expansion plan is taking place in the existing BSP land measuring 6286.75 hectares and no additional land is being utilised for the same.
All projects coming under the expansion cum modernisation plan would be utilising state-of-art pollution control technology, officials stated.
Notably, BSP has eliminated use of CFC-11 by replacing it by li-Br based Chiller unit, way before the target date of January 1, 2010, a company press release stated here on the eve of World Ozone Day.
Procurement of Carbon Tetra Chloride (CTC) has been stopped and use of Trichloroethylene has been started, it stated.
Two projects under the aegis of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have been implemented in BSP for the elimination of use of CTC. Procurement of Halon based fire extinguishers have also been replaced by FM 200 based units.
All industrial package air conditioners using CFC-12 were also replaced in a phased manner by units using CFC free refrigerant. The plant has brought down the use of ozone depleting substances to 3.05 tonnes in 2014 from about 10 tonnes a decade ago.
The ozone depleting potential, a true measure of consumption of Ozone depleting substances, has also been reduced to 0.167 tonnes by BSP in 2014, which is amongst lowest in industries.
Under the ongoing Expansion/Modernization projects, BSP has taken due care to fully comply with the Montreal protocol in procurement and installation of, Air conditioning/ refrigeration units. It is also ensured that, the fire protective equipment being procured is also fully complying with the Montreal protocol.
BSP also understands the importance of spreading awareness on Ozone day particularly amongst children.
Children are important for another reason: they transmit messages and information to their parents, families, and teachers. Children need to know about ozone depletion and its consequences. Every year, numbers of programmes are being organized to raise awareness of the students on the importance of Ozone day. The children of Eco-clubs, functioning in BSP schools take active role in this regard.
They have developed models depicting the Ozone layer and its importance, which reflect their creativity and also the concern for environment protection. These activities are helping in cultivating a climate-conscious mind in students who are future citizens of the country.
Going forward, the BSP will reaffirm its commitment towards any global effort in securing a safe, clean, green and sustainable future.
The United Nations General Assembly has since 1994, proclaimed September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer, in order to disseminate the importance of safeguarding the Ozone layer. The Ozone day commemorates the Montreal Protocol, a climate agreement which came into force in 1989.