World's fifth largest wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy plans to set up in Karnataka an integrated steel project, including a 2-million ton per annum steel plate manufacturing mill, according to a web publication. The 2-million ton per year mill will be constructed in the first phase, while in the second phase a blast furnace, steel meltshop and a sinter plant would be built, Metal Bulletin said quoting an unnamed source. Third phase of the project would integrate iron ore mining, for which Suzlon has started scouting for mines in Karnataka. Company officials could not be reached when contacted for comments.
According to the publication, Suzlon requires 85 ton of plate for every megawatt of wind turbine capacity it manufactures. "Suzlon currently needs about 500,000 ton per year of plate for its operations worldwide and this is set to increase as order books are getting bigger," the source was quoted as saying by Metal Bulletin.
Source : The Hindu
12th December, 2007