Question

Give specific examples of major raw material sites for three steel plants.

Answer 1

Specific examples of major steel plants and their raw material sources:

1. Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand):

   • Iron ore: Badampahar and Noamundi mines in Singhbhum district, Jharkhand; Gurumahisani mines in Mayurbhanj, Odisha (75-100 km away)
   • Coal: Jharia and Raniganj coal mines (160 to 316 km away)
   • Manganese: Joda mines, Keonjhar district, Odisha (~50 km away)
   • Limestone and dolomite: Sundergarh district, Odisha
   • Water: Subarnrekha river and Kharkai river dam
   • Kolkata nearby provides port facilities and hinterland market
   • This location is near to almost all raw materials, thereby minimizing transportation cost.
2. Bokaro Steel Plant (Jharkhand):
   1. Iron ore: Kiriburu mine in Keonjhar district, Odisha
   2. Coal: Jharia and Bokaro coalfields
   3. Limestone: Palamau district, Jharkhand
   4. Electricity: Damodar Valley Corporation hydro-electric power
   5. Port facilities via Kolkata (~300 km)
   6. Located near major raw materials supporting expansion plans and production.
3. Bhilai Steel Plant (Chhattisgarh):
   1. Iron ore: Dalli-Rajhara range (86 km south of Bhilai)
   2. Coal: Coalfields nearby to reduce transportation cost
   3. Limestone: Available in the region
   4. Power: Hydro-electricity from nearby sources
   5. Rail connections facilitate transportation of products and raw materials
   6. Set up in an area with raw materials and aimed to spur development.