‘G’ Blast Furnace, the biggest blast furnace of Tata Steel, in its first campaign has completed production of fourteen million tonnes of hot metal on November 5, 2004. This is the highest ever production achieved by any blast furnace in India in its first campaign. The campaign productivity is higher than some of the leading blast furnaces in the world. The furnace was blown-in on November 18, 1992 with a rated capacity of one million tonnes of hot metal per annum. In twelve years of its operation, the blast furnace produced fourteen million tonnes of hot metal. It also has the distinction of producing the lowest cost hot metal in the world.

The ‘G’ blast furnace will be shutdown for relining and up-gradation in December 2004 although this was planned for mid-October. The condition of the blast furnace was critically reviewed and steps were taken to prolong its life. It is estimated that the up-gradation of the ‘G’ blast furnace will take 100 days. The capacity of the upgraded furnace would be 1.8n million tonnes per annum.