Bihar Sponge Iron Ltd. (India)

Bihar Sponge Iron Ltd. (BSIL) is the first merchant sponge iron plant in India. It is located in Umesh Nagar, Chandil, in the Saraikela Kharsawan district of Jharkhand, approximately 30 kms from Jamshedpur. The company produces Direct Reduce Iron (sponge iron) using indigenous iron ore and non-coking coal found abundantly in the area. Sponge iron is used as a raw material in the production of steel. BSIL was established as a joint sector project by Bihar State Industrial Development Corp. Ltd. (BSIDC), Modi Group, German Investment and Development Company (DEG), and International Finance Corporation (Washington). The plant is based on Lurgi's SL/RN (coal-based) process and has a production capacity of 150,000 tonnes of sponge iron per year. The project began in June 1986 and was completed in a short period of time. The total cost of the project was $90 million, with partial funding from IFC Washington. Commercial production started in July 1989. Currently, the company has investments worth Rs. 1 billion and a production capacity of 2.10 lakh metric tonnes per year. It is considered the "most efficient coal-based plant in India." BSIL also has a captive power plant with a capacity of 5 MW. The company has over 500 employees supporting its operations. Contact information for BSIL includes the registered office address in Umesh Nagar, Chandil, as well as contact details for the registrar and share transfer agent (RTA) and the company secretary and compliance officer. The branch office address is located in Jamshedpur.