ABB India, SAIL Sign MoU To Digitally Optimise Rourkela Steel Plant

ABB India Ltd. on Thursday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with state-run Steel Authority of India Ltd. to digitally optimise iron and steel-making processes at the Rourkela steel plant in Odisha.

The deal, which does not disclose financial terms, will see SAIL share operational data with ABB to develop data-driven models and digital twins of its blast furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces at the steel melt shop, ABB said in a press release.

The Rourkela plant, with an annual capacity of 4.2 million tonnes, produced 4.08 million tonnes of saleable steel in 2024–25. SAIL aims to raise the plant’s capacity to 9 million tonnes per year by 2030.

ABB said the digital optimisation initiative will help SAIL meet environmental standards, cut costs, and improve operational efficiency.