JSW Steel launches high-performance hot strip mill in Karnataka

India’s JSW Vijayanagar Metallics (a subsidiary of JSW Steel) has commissioned a 5 million tonne per annum hot strip mill (HSM) at its integrated steel plant in Vijayanagar, Karnataka, The Hindu Business Line reports.

The company started trial operation of the equipment on March 17 this year, and after the inspection, it launched commercial production and sales, with the first products already shipped.

The new state-of-the-art hot strip mill can produce plates and coils. It is equipped with digital heating furnaces, evaporative cooling and waste heat recovery systems.

As a reminder, JSW Steel is set to launch a new blast furnace at its Dolva steel plant in Maharashtra with an annual production capacity of 4.5 million tons in 2026. Currently, the company’s steel production capacity is 10 million tons per year, with blast furnace and electric arc furnace operations. The new unit will increase production by 45%.

In February 2024, JSW Steel announced the start of construction of a new steel plant in Paradip, Odisha, with an annual capacity of 13.2 million tons. The steel complex will include its own power plant, berths with forklifts and a cement shop. Investments in the integrated steel plant are estimated at around 650 billion rupees ($7.8 billion).

As GMK Center reported earlier, JSW Steel will set up a joint venture with Japan’s JFE Steel Corporation. The companies will invest 55 billion rupees (about $663 million) to set up the plant in Karnataka. Production is likely to start in FY2026/2027 to further expand capacity to meet the growing demand for grain steel in India.