Bhilai Steel Plant’s Leadership in PCB Management

In 2017, Bhilai Steel Plant of SAIL was selected as the primary beneficiary of a project funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) aimed at the environmentally sound management and safe disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in India. The initiative was supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

PCBs are synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer applications, including insulation fluids for transformers and generators, fluorescent lamp ballasts, caulk, and carbonless copy paper. However, due to their classification as “probable human carcinogens” and their identification as hazardous pollutants under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001), the management of PCBs requires stringent and environmentally sound measures.

Bhilai Steel Plant engaged Re Sustainability Limited (formerly Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited) to establish and operate a dedicated facility for PCB management. Operational since December 2022, the Bhilai facility is equipped to destroy pure PCB liquid waste, decontaminate porous materials contaminated with PCBs, and manage PCB-contaminated oils and wastes. With a capacity to process 330 tons of PCBs annually, the plant employs advanced technologies such as Plascon and an Internal Thermal Desorption system to ensure efficient destruction and decontamination. Transformers received at the facility are drained of oil and dismantled, and all hazardous waste generated during operations is responsibly managed through scientific landfilling. As a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) facility, it exemplifies sustainable and compliant hazardous waste management.

The Bhilai Steel Plant initiative fulfils its objective of safely disposing of PCBs while adhering to India’s legal and regulatory framework for the environmentally sound management of PCB-containing equipment, oils, and wastes. By integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices, it sets a benchmark for hazardous material management and supports a cleaner, safer future.