Manufacturing Industries in India - II: Mineral-based

Answer

A mineral-based industry is an industry that secures its raw materials from minerals. Iron and steel industry is a major example because it uses iron ore and other mineral inputs.

Answer

It is called a basic industry because other industries depend on it. Steel is needed to make machinery, railway tracks, locomotives, ships, bridges, tools, defence equipment, and many more products.

Answer

An integrated steel plant is one where all the three processes from melting of iron ore in the blast furnace to steel making followed by shaping of the metal by rolling is carried out under one comple…

Answer

Mini steel plants are decentralized secondary units. They use electric arc and induction furnaces, and make steel from scrap iron and sponge iron.

Answer

Mini steel plants produce alloy steel, mild steel and stainless steel. They also produce liquid steel which is turned into ingots.

Answer

They are usually located away from integrated plants and help meet local demand. They need less heavy capital investment, can be set up at convenient places, and use readily available scrap iron.

Answer

The only disadvantage of a mini steel plant is that it is totally dependent on electric power. It also consumes more power per unit weight of steel than an integrated plant.

Answer

Some mini steel plants are located at Kanpur, Jaipur, Pune, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Delhi and Bhopal.