Tata Steel Deploys Coke Oven Gas Injection Technology at Odisha Blast Furnace

Tata Steel has commissioned a coke oven gas injection project at the blast furnace of its Meramandali plant in Odisha, marking what the company described as a first-of-its-kind initiative in India’s steel industry.

The project is aimed at reducing dependence on external fossil fuels and supporting Tata Steel’s target of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2045. The company said the initiative demonstrates its focus on deploying advanced technologies for low-carbon iron and steel production.

“This initiative of maximising the utilisation of gases to reduce dependence on external fossil fuels reinforces Tata Steel’s leadership in sustainable manufacturing,” Subodh Pandey, Vice President – Technology, R&D, said. He added that the company remains focused on demonstrating and scaling low-carbon technologies to accelerate its transition towards the Net Zero target.

Tata Steel Meramandali Vice President (Operations) Sudhir Kumar Mehta said the project reflected the efforts of teams to improve operational efficiency while lowering environmental impact. Coke oven gas is a hydrogen- and hydrocarbon-rich by-product generated during the steelmaking process. In integrated steel plants, it is generally used for power generation and heating, while some of it may also be flared.

With support from technology partner Paul Wurth-SMS and equipment supplier Kobelco, Tata Steel has introduced coke oven gas injection into the blast furnace. The gas substitutes fossil fuel as a reductant, helping lower fossil-fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

The technology also enables the blast furnace to operate on a three-fuel system, providing greater operational flexibility and efficiency, the company said. Tata Steel said the project further strengthens its efforts towards green steel production through the safe and stable deployment of advanced injection technologies.

The company has been exploring several low-carbon blast furnace technologies and has previously demonstrated the injection of coal-bed methane, hydrogen and biochar into blast furnaces. The latest initiative is part of Tata Steel’s broader efforts to improve resource utilisation and reduce the carbon intensity of steel manufacturing.