The Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has announced that they have maintained a steady growth over the first three quarters of the fiscal year, posting their best ever performance figures since the inception of the steel plant.

Between April 2010 and December 2010, hot metal production stood at 1.74m tonnes, crude steel was at 1.62m tonnes and saleable steel was at 1.49m tonnes with all sectors deemed to be running above capacity.

Production of Hot Metal and Crude Steel during April to December 2010 was the best ever for any April-December period since inception.

Output of Crude Steel in December 2010 was the best ever compared to any month of December since inception of RSP.

During the April-December period, growth was maintained in finished products of the steel plant — plates from plate mill, Hot Rolled Coil and Hot Rolled plates from Hot Strip Mill, Electic Resistance Weld (ERW) Pipe from the two pipe plants as well as Cold Rolled Sheets and Coils from Cold Rolling Mills.

In value added segments like Cold Rolled Sheets and Coils, ERW pipes and SW pipes, the plant registered impressive growth of 12.2. percent, 43.5 percent and 21.7 percent, compared to the corresponding period of last financial year, the sources said.