Speaking today at a workshop in New Delhi on National Steel Policy and the Policy for Providing Preference to Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products (DMI&SP) in government procurement, Steel Minister Birendra Singh said “I am very happy to note that these two policies have been very well received by the industry and various stakeholders.”
The National Steel Policy 2017 comes with a great deal of expectations with the aim to take India’s steel production to 300 MnT by 2030-31. The policy envisages local manufacturing to meet the demand for high-grade automotive steel, electrical steel, special steels and alloys for strategic applications by 2031.
The minister also said that within a month of the implementation of the DMI&SP policy, the domestic industry has ensured a big order for supply of pipes.“Under the two policies, the steel ministry has ensured a holistic and comprehensive view of the steel sector in India and its key growth drivers, to ensure sustainable growth of all segments of the industry,” he said.
Stating that the two policies were the “need of the hour”, the minister stressed on the need to develop technologies to produce electrical grade and auto grade steel in India, so that it becomes self-sufficient on these products.
He said that India should go one step further and add value in such a way that it can become competitive in international market and enhance exports. “Instead of producing just semi-finished and basic steel products, we must produce high value added products, which also get better prices,” Singh said.
Steel Minister’s view on setting up of coal washeries & optimising pellet utilisation
The minister said he has directed officials to take two actions on priority basis. These are setting up of coal washeries and optimising pellet utilisation. These will help reduce dependence on imports by maximising usage of domestic raw materials.
“Coal India Limited (CIL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) have agreed to set up 12 new coking coal washeries by 2019-20. CIL is also working on acquisition of coking coal assets, increasing domestic production and minimizing diversion of coking coal to thermal plants,” Singh said.
India has to work towards producing clean and green steel – Steel Minister
In its efforts to maximise steel production in a sustainable way with minimum impact on environment, the steel ministry is examining if methanol can be produced in a financially viable manner using waste gases as the raw material.
“We have set up a committee led by one Joint Secretary to see if methanol production can be feasible and financially viable in our steel plants using waste gases from steel plant as raw material,” steel minister Birender Singh said.
“India has to work towards producing clean and green steel. We need to minimise our carbon footprint and waste discharge. Steel must be produced in a sustainable way with minimum impact on environment,” he said.
Recently RINL has started an environment-friendly 120 MW power plant, which uses waste gases discharged from its coke ovens and blast furnaces. Singh said that India must set up more such plants.
Leave a Reply