ENERGY CONSERVATION IN MUKUND IRON & STEEL WORKS LTD.

Steel making by the use of electric arc furnace (EAF) is a highly energy intensive process. Energy costs constitute 22% of the value added to raw material in electric steel making. There are about 174 units in India which make steel from scrap by EAF process. The domestic industry, however, has lagged behind its counterparts elsewhere in this area. Mukund by contrast has moved rapidly to close the technological gap. In 1984, the Company formulated a comprehensive plan designed to effect saving in energy consumption to the extent of 45% in two phases. In the first phase, 15% of the planned target was to be achieved on its existing equipment, entirely through changes in process technology and better work practices. The efforts made by the Company in this first phase are discussed.