Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) recorded best-ever quarterly production of saleable steel at 3.1 million tonnes (MT) during April-June 2006, showing a growth of 8% over the corresponding period last year (CPLY). The average capacity utilisation for saleable steel production in SAILÔÇÖs five integrated steel plants thus surged to a level of 112% during the first three months of the current fiscal against 103% achieved during CPLY.
SAILÔÇÖs techno-economic parameters continued to improve with the energy consumption level coming down by 1% at 7.22 giga calories per tonne of crude steel and coke rate reducing by 1 kg to the level of 542 kgs per tonne of hot metal.
The companyÔÇÖs sales grew by half a million tonnes during AprilÔÇôJune 2006. Total exports at around 1.2 lakh tonnes during the period were maintained at the last yearÔÇÖs level.
The three speciality steel plants of SAIL also reported improved performance. Production of saleable steel at Alloy Steels Plant, Durgapur grew by 12% during the period. Salem Steel Plant reported production of 41,500 tonnes during the first three months against 23,000 tonnes in the same period of last year. Hot metal production at VISL recorded a growth of 10% during the period.