One of the most coveted metals in the world today is steel. Modern structures and development projects are possible with the aid of steel. Steel truly is the backbone of any developing and developed nation. Yet the production of steel would be impossible without the presence of one core naturally occurring metal – iron ore.
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Iron ore is abundant in nature and is one of the oldest used metals. The use of iron ore can be traced back to as early as 3200 BC. Early humans found various uses for iron ore, and the production of iron ore was accelerated in 1200 BC under the Mesopotamian civilization. The reason is that iron is just one metal.
Unlike other metals, iron is not an alloy and hence the production of this metal is easier compared to other metals.
This simplicity, coupled with the metal’s inherent strength, led to the widespread adoption of iron. The true utility of iron ore was recognized during the industrial revolution when the production of steel was streamlined.
Iron Ore Industry In India
India is endowed with an abundance of iron ore reserves. These reserves and extensive mining advancements have helped India limit its steel imports and expand on exports. The industry is also responsible for bringing in a large percentage of revenue to the country. Currently, the onus of iron ore production in India rests on these states – Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Goa, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan. These states form the major chunk of the iron ore belt, and it is here that companies and units of iron suppliers are located.
There are many types of iron ore found in India. The 2 main types are Hematite and Magnetite, of which Magnetite is more valuable since it holds a larger percentage of iron. This presence of iron has helped India build its steel capacity to 143.91 million tonnes.
As of 2021, there are 254 mines present in India, of which 219 belong to the private sector. While steel is the final product of iron ore, we will look into the many subsidiary products of iron ore in the next section.
What is the Demand of Iron Ore in India?
Throughout the past several years the iron ore demand in India has remained strong owing to the strong steel sector of the country. Being one of the largest world producers of steel, the country always needs large amounts of iron ores to supply infrastructure projects, construction, and manufacturing industries. Due to the government’s encouraging ‘Make in India’ initiative and further investment in the industrial segment, the requirement of iron ore for the development of the country is going to be consistent.
Which States in India Are the Largest Exporters of Iron Ore?
The three major iron ore exporters in India are Odisha, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh. Out of these states, Odisha has emerged as the largest exporter selling a considerable amount of iron ore to other countries because of the state’s abundant mineral resources and a sound mining industry. Karnataka and Chhattisgarh too rank significant, given that the former is one of the most important mineral producing states, contributing over one-fifth of the country’s mineral output and exporting about one-third of the state production to overseas markets and the latter is also one of the major mineral rich states of the country and has the largest iron ore resources in the country.
Sponge Iron Manufacturing in India
Sponge iron is one of the many products manufactured during the production of iron. Sponge Iron is also known as Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and is produced by the direct reduction of iron ore.
These ores, usually in the form of lumps or pellets, are reduced using a gas derived from natural gas or coal. The method of direct reduction is an alternative method of iron making. This method is preferred to the conventional blast furnace method of iron making since it reduces waste and yields better production.
Sponge iron is also preferred in the production of TMT steel bars because of its low sulfur content. It also acts as a substitute for steel scrap in the manufacturing of steel. Overall sponge iron helps in the production of superior, high-grade steel. Sponge iron is also used as a coolant in LD converters of steel plants.
What is the Rank of Sponge Iron Production in India?
India is among the leading manufacturers of sponge iron in the worldwide market today; it sometimes holds the first or the second position regarding the quantity of the product manufactured. The country has got immense reserves of both iron ore and coal and DRI technology is generally used to enhance the sponge iron production in India. Their main responsibility is to assist the steel and iron ore industry in India and satisfy local and global requirements of high-quality sponge iron.
What is the future of the sponge iron industry in India?
India appears to be favourable given the unabated demand for steel and the government’s push for infrastructure growth. The improvement of production technologies, as well as growing attention to environmental problems, can speak of the development not only in terms of the amount of masonry produced but also in its quality. Also, the increase in per capita steel consumption domestically and future export possibilities clearly make the industry of sponge iron manufacturer in India a significant contributor to the future advancement of the India industrialization.
Sree Metaliks Limited – Sponge Iron Manufacturer In India
Sponge iron is an important component in the production of steel. The many benefits of sponge iron have further increased its demand in the steel manufacturing industry. To meet this ever-growing need, many sponge iron manufacturers have accelerated their production.
One such sponge iron plant manufacturer in India is Sree Metaliks Limited. This leading manufacturer of iron ore, TMT bars, pellets, and sponge iron has established a name for itself in the construction industry. The brand was incorporated in 1995 and has since then set up mining units in Odisha.
Sree Metaliks Limited is an iron supplier and sponge iron manufacturer that offers high-grade sponge iron. The brand makes conscious efforts to always deliver high-quality raw materials and finished products at cost-effective prices. So, for your next project, invest in sponge iron from Sree Metaliks Limited.
For more information, please reach out to us at: Sales@sreemetaliks.com