Why the Steel Industry is So Important
The steel industry has been important to society since the Iron Age and continues to be vital to our economy today, which means if you’re working in this industry or you’re considering it as a career, it’s important to understand what the importance of the iron and steel industry really is. Here are five reasons why the steel industry is so important.
If you’ve read the news recently, you’ve probably heard the term steel industry come up quite a bit. Steel isn’t just used to make cars and other vehicles—it has a wide variety of uses across many industries, from construction to consumer goods to energy development to military equipment and more. There are many benefits to steel, which is why the industry has grown so much over the years and why it will continue to grow as technology advances in the future.
The Iron Ore Cycle
The steelmaking process begins with iron ore, which is mined and sent to a steel plant for processing. It’s then crushed into a fine powder that’s purified, melted at extremely high temperatures, and poured into an electric arc furnace (EAF) to create liquid iron. This molten iron then goes through a blast furnace where it picks up carbon from coke particles and from limestone placed on top of it before going into an EAF again to become steel. This steel then goes through rolling mills, where it’s formed into bars. To form more specific products—such as flatware or pressure vessels—the bars are then heated to 1,400 degrees Celsius (2,550 Fahrenheit) in an electric induction melting shop until they become fully malleable.
Effects on Society
Our modern society relies on steel for all kinds of things, from houses to cars. Without steel products we wouldn’t have a functional civilization; we would be living in tents and caves instead of in skyscrapers and suburban homes. Of course, steel isn’t completely necessary to sustain life, but it is an integral part of our everyday lives. If you don’t believe me, just think about how many different objects are made with steel – refrigerators, alarm clocks, ovens and hot plates (for cooking food), motorcycles, automobiles…the list goes on and on. By purchasing products that are made with steel you are supporting hundreds if not thousands of workers who help make those products possible.
The Evolution of Steelmaking
In recent decades, steelmaking has evolved from a craft to an industrial process, greatly increasing its sophistication and complexity. Thanks to these advances in technology, steel production has become one of the world’s most energy-intensive industries. However, modern steelmaking methods have also led to safer and more efficient processes for creating steel. Steelmakers must balance these advances with environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions; currently, Pakistan’s steel industry contributes about 0.3% of Pakistan’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The iron and steel industry generates over 90 million tons of byproducts that contribute approximately 1% of Pakistan’s annual carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources.
What is the importance of the iron and steel industry in Pakistan?
The steel industry in Pakistan is an essential part of the economy, providing much-needed infrastructure and contributing to other industries. One of its biggest contributions, however, lies in its long history with America. The U.S., which remains a vital trade partner for Pakistan’s steel sector, purchased over $6 billion in Pakistani-made goods from 2009 to 2010 alone. Additionally, American companies have invested millions into industrial sites and training centers all across Pakistan. In 2012 alone, corporate entities such as Honeywell opened plants at five locations across Northern Pakistan employing approximately 1,000 Pakistani workers in each place. These massive investments made by American companies are a sign of mutual respect between two countries with strong ties forged by their shared love for all things iron and steel.
Environmental Impact in Pakistan
In Pakistan, steel has been a huge industry for many years. The steel sector generates up to 20 percent of Pakistan’s total exports and more than 50 percent of its industrial output. Steel production provides thousands of jobs to citizens in Pakistan and contributes large amounts of tax revenue. Steel also helps local businesses that depend on raw materials to create products like auto parts, construction materials, and refrigerators. If steel goes away, those businesses lose their business connections; they’re connected only through their reliance on steel.
Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM)
Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) was established in 1972 as a Single-Unit Public Sector Company in Pakistan. It was conceived by then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto under his program of nationalization to improve Pakistan’s steel industry, which was one of a few industries at that time that had not been nationalized.
The Steel Mill started its production on 15th March 1976 and produced 1.5 million tons of steel in its first year of operation. Since then it has grown steadily and now has an annual capacity of 5 million tons per annum with a further increase planned for 2017/18 to 6 million tons per annum.
Pakistan Steel Mills Limited (PSML) is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It was established by the Government of Pakistan under the Ministry of Industries & Production as a single unit company in 1972. In 1982, PSML was incorporated as a public limited company under Companies Ordinance 1984.
The main objective behind the establishment of PSML was to develop the steel industry in Pakistan which was not developed at that time due to reasons such as lack of raw materials and availability of technology, etc.