Rourkela Steel Plant adopts environment-friendly tech to reduce carbon footprint

Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) Wednesday said it has adopted a three-pronged strategy to protect and preserve the environment and produce steel in harmony with nature. The strategy includes: Progressive adoption of environment-friendly new technologies, environmental monitoring and spreading environmental awareness, RSP said in a statement on the World Environment Day.

RSP, the first Indian Steel Plant to adopt environment-friendly and energy efficient LD technology in the early '60s, is giving topmost priority towards adopting the latest technology available for the making of green steel, it said. The plant has installed many environment-friendly systems during the recent phase of modernisation and expansion in spite of the high cost involved. Latest techniques are adopted to check all types of pollution - air, water or land.

Electrostatic precipitators, bag houses, multi cyclones, dust suppression systems, and wet scrubbers have been installed to check air pollution, it said. On the waterfront, RSP has adopted a two-stage method for treating the wastewater before discharging in river Brahmani. The process wastewater generated from various units is first treated at source in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) installed at different departments.

Most of the wastewater after treatment is recycled back to steel making processes at the sources itself except a little quantity of discharge. The total effluent is taken to a 'Lagoon' for final treatment. It is biologically treated by the microorganisms. In addition to biological activity, several other mechanisms like hindered settling, neutralization, equalization, chemical oxidation are also taking place in the lagoon making it an effective secondary treatment and polishing unit.

After treatment in Lagoon, the treated effluent is finally discharged into the river Brahmani. Stating that RSP is going to be a zero discharge plant very soon, the statement said water requirements of the new projects like new hot strip mill will be met from the treated effluent of the lagoon.

Regular monitoring, sampling and analysis of various environmental parameters are also being carried out for taking corrective actions for continuous improvement. The monitoring stations are uplinked with the servers of state pollution control board and central pollution control board. Results are regularly analyzed and preventive actions are taken to minimize environmental pollution.

RSP is organizing various training programmes for the employees and organizing various events for students and the general public to spread awareness regarding environment protection, it added.

(With inputs from agencies.)