Tuwairiqi Steel starts test operation

KARACHI: Tuwairqi Steel Mills Ltd (TSML), the first steel manufacturing project in the private sector in Pakistan, has kicked off its testing operations at Bin Qasim, Karachi, on Tuesday.

“TSML has kicked off its cold commissioning (testing operations) of its Distributed Control System (DCS) today - the Pakistan Day,” said in a press statement. The experimental operations would continue and be monitored for a period of about two-month. This will be followed by the full-fledged production of 1.28 million tons a year of DRI (Direct Reduction of Iron), statement added.

Tuwairqi Steel Mills Limited (TSML) is a project of Al Tuwairqi Holding of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Company has so far invested $245 million (excluding working capital) here in first phase. Moreover, TSML complex is spread over an area of 220 acres at Bin Qasim, Karachi.

“The cold commissioning of the DCS is being performed by TSML team under the supervision of foreign consultants arrived from Midrex, USA, headed by Frank Bacon. In addition to them, the plant is being managed by Sameh Torky, who has successfully commissioned and operated three DRI plants in the world,” said the press statement.

While informing about the salient features of this system, Zaigham Adil Rizvi, Director (Projects) said, “The DCS installed at TSML, uses subsystems to control the entire DRI Plant. It does not require user intervention for routine operation, but may permit operator interaction via a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) interface. The DCS consist of remote control panels, communications medium, and central control panel.” Regarding the production of DRI worldwide, he said that approximately 62 million metric tons of DRI in the form of pellet, lump and HBI was produced in 2009. “The 2009 trends show that DRI usage is gaining popularity despite reduced world steel production and consumption,” he added.

Zubair Motiwala, advisor to Sindh Chief Minister for investment and Muhammad Younus Dagha, Secretary/ DG Sindh Board of Investment were also present at the occasion.