Engineering Change,Shaping a Sustainable Future
Engineering Leadership with Purpose
With more than 35 years of experience at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Dasari Srinivasu combines engineering expertise with operational leadership, digital transformation, enterprise risk management and sustainability-driven innovation. His work reflects a focus on improving industrial performance through technical ingenuity and responsible resource utilization.
Turning Engineering Insight into Energy Savings
A notable achievement is the optimization of Active Front End (AFE) drives through intelligent programmable logic controller (PLC)-based control. Analysis identified unnecessary insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switching during non-rolling periods, consuming electricity without productive output. By studying the driveʼs internal control sequence and developing a PLC-based intervention using existing infrastructure, Srinivasu enabled automatic suppression of unnecessary switching during defined idle conditions, while retaining protection and restoring normal operation when rolling demand resumed.
Measurable Impact, Without Capital Investment
Implemented across 16 AFE drives, the initiative delivers annualized savings of approximately 6,020 MWh of electricity, an estimated 4,274 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided and a financial benefit of about ₹6.76 crore. It required zero capital expenditure and no additional hardware, and caused no production interruption attributable to implementation. The engineering development effort was 74 hours.
Recognition and Intellectual Property
The project was recognized as a “Most Innovative Projectˮ at the CII 26th National Award for Excellence in Energy Management 2025. Indian Patent Application No. 202641068866, titled “Energy Conservation System in Active Front End Drives and a Method Thereof,ˮ was filed on 1 June 2026. Technical engagement with professionals from SAIL, Tata Steel and JSW Steel has highlighted potential for adaptation across suitable AFE-equipped industrial applications, subject to site-specific validation.
Advancing Digital, Data-Driven Industry
Beyond energy optimization, Srinivasu is advancing data-driven industrial improvement through initiatives including a critical raw-material decision-support engine, a coke-oven battery monitoring dashboard and digital decision-support portals designed to strengthen resource planning, operational foresight and management decisions.
Governance, Sustainability and Lasting Value
As an IICA Qualified Independent Director, an LESGI alumnus and Board Advisor to Vijoria Foundation, Srinivasu brings together engineering experience, governance awareness and sustainability-oriented leadership. His work demonstrates that industrial competitiveness and environmental responsibility can reinforce one another: intelligent optimization, digital innovation and disciplined engineering can unlock greater efficiency and value from existing assets.
