State-owned steelmaker SAIL has tied up with Siemens to upgrade the technical competence of its work force.
Siemens will offer training in automation, DC/AC servo drives, switchgears and other related technologies such as process instrumentation and mechatronics at the steel major’s units in Bhilai, Bokaro, Durgapur, Rourkela, Burnpur, Salem, Bhadravati and Kolkata.
SAIL is working on a long-term plan to touch 50 million tonnes a year capacity by 2025 with an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
The current capacity is 14 mt a year. The expansion programme will be across its five steel plants. A 5.6-mt a year plant will also come up at Sindri, near Dhanbad.
Siemens cited client confidentiality for not disclosing the number to be trained and the payment for the service.
The memorandum of understanding was for three years and the third consecutive agreement signed with Siemens.
Manas Panda, Executive Director, HRD, said, “We are in the process of modernising our plants with newer installations. Through this agreement we aim to upgrade the competence of our work force and bring them up-to-date with the latest innovations and technologies.”