Tata Steel Adopts Piped Natural Gas at Odisha Plant to Cut Carbon Emissions

 

Jajpur (Odisha):

Tata Steel has taken a major step towards environmental sustainability by replacing furnace oil with Piped Natural Gas (PNG) at its Ferro Alloys Plant (FAP) in Jajpur, Odisha. This initiative marks a significant milestone, making it the first of its kind in India’s ferrochrome industry. The shift is expected to drastically reduce the company’s carbon footprint, supporting India's goal of a greener industrial future.

The plant, which operates under Tata Steel’s Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division (FAMD), has installed a PNG facility to preheat chrome ore used in producing chrome ore briquettes. With this transition, the company will completely eliminate the use of furnace oil, moving towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy source.

Speaking at the inauguration of the PNG facility, Pankaj Satija, Executive-In-Charge of FAMD, emphasized the environmental benefits of the move. “Natural gas burns cleaner than furnace oil, significantly reducing harmful emissions, particularly due to the high sulfur content in furnace oil. By adopting PNG, we are actively contributing to India's fight against global warming and advancing towards a lower carbon footprint,” he said.

To ensure a steady supply of PNG, Tata Steel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a leading public sector oil and gas company. Under the agreement, BPCL will provide a consistent supply of natural gas through its pipeline to the Ferro Alloys Plant, further strengthening Tata Steel’s commitment to sustainability.

The inaugural event at FAP Jajpur was attended by senior officials from Tata Steel and BPCL, including BD Nanda, Chief-Operations (FAP Jajpur, FAP Gopalpur, FAP Athagarh), Alok Kumar Panda, Head of FAP Jajpur, and Ravneet Singh, Territory Manager (GAS) at BPCL.

With this transition, Tata Steel continues to set new benchmarks in sustainable industrial practices, reinforcing its dedication to reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental stewardship.