30, 000 Nigerians favoured as PSML Rolling Mill begins operation

*Brewery, PAN next in our revival mission-AMCON *Why we must produce our own steel-Okowa

An estimated 30, 000 Nigerians with a target of at least 5,000 direct and indirect jobs will be positively touched in the next stage when Premium Steel and Mines Limited, PSML, former Delta Steel Company Limited, Ovwian Aladja in Delta State, re-launches the Wire Rod Mill and Rebar Mill with a production capacity of 0.8 million tons per annum.

 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (3rd right) cutting the tape to commission PSML Rolling Mill, while Ovie of Udu Kingdom, HRM Barr. E.B.O Delekpe (4th right) Mr. Prasnata Mishra (2nd right) & others look on

This much was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer of Premium Steel and Mines Limited, PSML, Mr. Prasnata Mishra Friday March 2 at the company’s premises during the commissioning of the 0.4 million tons per annum rolling mill of the company by Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

While noting that PSML is a one Million Ton Liquid Steel Capacity Plant responsible for reinforcing Nigeria with allied products, Mr. Mishra noted “the company’s newly groomed 18 stand rolling mill with latest automation equipment can produce IS.1786/85 FE 500, ASTM A615 MGR 75 (520) BS 4449 GR 460 & BS 4449: 2005 standard grades”.

Front view of Premium Steel & Mines Limited, Ovwian-Aladja, Udu LGA, Delta State

He added that PSML “BS 4449: 2005 product will find a special place in Nigeria’s budding economy and huge construction industry”, bringing “diversity to its product profile by producing premium rebars, round bars, square bars, wire rods, angles and channels etc”.

The Indian born steel investor averred that his company pulled down all obsolete automation systems and auxiliaries  of the rolling mill complex built by the Austro-German Consortium and replaced them with state-of-the-art equipment to meet today’s competitive market needs”, priding the company “as one of the best Nigerian Steel Mill to produce the BS4449 grade steel needed for the construction of high-rise buildings, bridges, flyovers, malls and other sky scrapers due to its high mechanical and yield strength”.

One of the rolling mill machines during production of Iron Steel at Premium Steel & Mines Ltd., shortly after the commissioning

According to him, factors favouring the operations of the company include its strategic location (i.e proximity to rail road and harbour and also dedicated natural gas line and twin bison 330kv lines create greatest advantages) nearness to airport and 45 nautical miles to the Atlantic.

In a message, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi stated that Delta Steel, now PSML is the only Steel plant that can produce steel for “our local resources”.

The Minister who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Ime Ikrikpo assured Premium Steel and Mines Limited of continuous support, adding that the country is on the right track in the production of liquid steel with the commissioning of PSML Rolling Mill Plant.

The Managing Director/CEO of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, Mr. Ahmed Kuru in an address, posited that the successful revival of PSML Rolling Mill Plant, has shown that AMCON is indeed a major solution provider for ailing and dead companies in Nigeria.

The AMCON Boss who was represented by Okoronkwo Onwuike, disclosed that in the next couple of weeks, AMCON “will be heading to Umuahia in Abia State to re-commission the long-abandoned Golden Guinea Breweries, which is almost ready for business commencement and Kaduna State”, where “we have also revamped the hitherto Moribund Peugeot Automobile Company of Nigeria, PAN and they are rolling out cars gradually, but steadily”.

Cross Section of staff of Premium Steel & Mines Ltd. during the commissioning

Report has it  that shortly before commissioning the rolling mill and subsequently undertaking on-the-spot production process of the company, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa noted that the rolling mill will bring a lot of economic gain to Udu Kingdom and Delta State at large.

While appreciating the efforts of the Ministry of Solid Minerals and AMCON toward the eventual take-off of PSML operations, Dr. Okowa quipped that for the country to grow technologically and industrially, it must produce its own steel.

He admonished the management of PSML to take care of the needs of people of the host communities, just as he enjoined the indigenous people to sustain the prevailing peaceful environment.