Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has finally completed acquisition of state-owned Bharat Refractories (BRL) and merged the company with itself.  

The merger will help the country’s largest steel producer utilize BRL’s excess capacity for its present and future refractory needs. Already, the steelmaker consumes about 85-90% of BRL’s output.

BRL makes high temperature-bearing refractory materials used in the inner linings of blast furnaces.  

The company has been reeling under losses for many years due to technological obsolescence, ageing plants and equipment and low capacity utilization.

The move will provide an opportunity to BRL to upgrade its technology and resource management.  

It should be noted that the merger, effective April 1, 2007, has also secured approval from corporate affairs ministry.