MUMBAI: Steel scrap is emerging as the key input for green steel, speakers at the 12th Indian Steel Markets Conference said.

“Steel is one of the few materials that can be recycled infinitely without losing its strength or quality. That makes it not only the backbone of industrial growth, but also of sustainability. India today consumes around 42 million tonnes of scrap annually, and this figure is rising by over 6% year-on-year. Nearly 9 million tonnes of scrap is imported into the country every year,” Vinaya Varma, Managing Director, mjunction services limited, said at the opening session of the two-day 12th Indian Steel Markets Conference organised by mjunction services limited kicked off here today. 

In line with global concern of decarbonising the steel sector, the theme of the conference this year is the “Indian Steel Value Chain – Recycle. Reshape. Innovate. Sustain.”

“Sustainability is no longer optional but strategic,” said Syed Jawed Ahmed, Executive Director, SAIL, detailing how the public sector company is embracing sustainability and creating capabilities to meet evolving green steel norms.

Sourcing scrap remains a key concern for India as steel demand continues to rise.

“While government capex is driving 60% of steel usage, India’s young and growing population is also generating demand,” Girishkumar Kadam, Senior Vice President & Group Head, Corporate Sector Ratings, ICRA, said.

As steel demand and production rise, the sector is facing raw material sourcing challenges.

Import of coking coal is going to be expensive in the long run, while aggressive bidding for iron ore mines is driving up domestic iron ore costs, according to Sandeep Kumar, Vice President, Raw Materials, Tata Steel.

Beyond decarbonisation, the conference seeks to deliver deep insights into the volatile global and domestic landscape, critical policy shifts, evolving trade dynamics, and the imperative for sustainable practices that are reshaping the industry and driving the dialogue on India’s ambitious steel growth trajectory.

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MUMBAI: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has published its Sustainability Report for FY2024-2025, which has set out the measurable progress it is making on its commitment to decarbonisation, circularity, and communities’ empowerment. The report also underscores that AM/NS India’s efforts to cut CO₂​ emissions and embrace circularity are aligned with global standards such as Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2021, European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), Integrated Reporting (IR) & Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR).

Dilip Oommen, Chief Executive Officer, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), said: “Sustainability is integral to our business strategy, promoting innovation, contributing to national climate action goals, and ensuring the well-being and safety of our employees and all other stakeholders. The past financial year has marked a turning point in our sustainability journey as we made steady progress on our strategic intent to continue producing high-quality and low-carbon emissions steel, more responsibly. Under the theme ‘From Green Promise to Green Action’, the report details measurable advancements we made in sustainability across our operations, value chain, and communities.”

Milestones

• Low-carbon emissions steelmaking progress: CO₂ emissions intensity has been reduced by 2.2% from the 2021 baseline. Since 2015, AM/NS India has reduced more than one-third CO₂ emissions intensity. The company is currently recognised as one of India’s lowest carbon-emitting integrated steel producers (14% lower than the national average).
• Renewable energy integration: 26% of the organisation’s total electricity consumption has been sourced from renewable energy. The notable boost in renewable energy was realised when the company’s flagship plant in Hazira, Gujarat, started receiving clean energy from about a 1-GW hybrid renewable energy project in Andhra Pradesh. The $0.7 billion project, developed by AM Green Energy (part of ArcelorMittal, one of our parent companies), represents the company’s commitment to decarbonisation.
• Water resource management: Zero liquid discharge has been achieved across the company operations in India; 350 million litres of rainwater have been harvested.
• Circularity: Nearly 4.1 lakh tonnes of steel scrap have been utilised in the financial year, resulting in 5.7% of scrap mix in steel production. A scrap processing plant in Khopoli, Maharashtra, accelerated this circularity in its supply chain, bringing AM/NS India closer to its 10 % scrap mix target by 2030.

The report details how the company is pursuing green hydrogen and carbon capture to pave the way for next-generation steelmaking. AM/NS India collaborated with ArcelorMittal’s XCarb India Accelerator program (in which IIT Madras was also involved) and interacted with 50 start-ups focusing on decarbonisation technologies. Out of them, three companies were awarded seed funding by ArcelorMittal to spur innovation.

The company has touched over 2.5 million lives so far in about 210 villages across the nation. Some of the key initiatives that generated considerable impact in the FY 24-25.

• Skill Development (Daksh): 1,578 youth were trained; 911 were successfully placed.
• Health (Aarogya): 0.66 million beneficiaries were afforded better access to healthcare.
• Livelihoods (SAFAL): The Sustainable Agriculture For Alternative Livelihood (SAFAL) programme led to a 20% increase in farmer incomes.
• Environment & Energy (Green & Ujjwala): Afforestation and solar infrastructure initiatives.

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The $0.7 billion project – developed, constructed and commissioned by AM Green Energy, a wholly owned ArcelorMittal subsidiary – is expected to reduce AM/NS India’s carbon emissions by 1.5 million tonnes per year, supporting AM/NS India’s target to reduce the carbon intensity of the steel it produces by 20% by 2030 (against a 2021 baseline).

The India renewables project has been developed as a hybrid project, integrating 1GW of solar and wind capacity with a third-party hydro pumped storage solution (currently under testing and scheduled for commissioning by June 2025), ensuring the project will ultimately deliver at least 250MW of round-the-clock power, critical for continuous energy production. It will provide over 20% of the existing energy requirements at AM/NS India’s steel plant in Hazira, Gujarat.

Vast in scale, the solar site is spread over 2,400 acres – enough to hold more than 1,700 FIFA-sized football fields – and the wind site is spread over 700 acres. Now fully commissioned and running at nameplate capacity, c. 1.5 million solar panels and 91 wind turbines will generate 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power annually, equivalent to powering nearly 10 million Indian households.

Commenting, Aditya Mittal, CEO, ArcelorMittal, said: “Investing in renewable energy generation is an exciting new business area for ArcelorMittal. It provides cost-effective clean energy security for our steelmaking operations and supports our decarbonisation objectives.

“The India project is the first of our major renewables projects to be commissioned. It is a large and ambitious project that has been completed efficiently and safely in approximately 18 months, one of the fastest projects of this scale delivered in India, with clean electricity now being provided to AM/NS India. My congratulations go to everyone involved in the project. Its successful delivery demonstrates our commitment to growing our presence in India in a safe, sustainable manner.”

The India renewables project is one of several renewable energy projects ArcelorMittal is developing. In total, the Company has 2.3GW of renewable energy projects underway in India, Brazil, and Argentina.

It also forms part of ArcelorMittal’s suite of strategic growth projects, from which the Company expects to generate incremental annual EBITDA of $1.9 billion when all are complete by the end of 2027.         

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PUNE: Tata BlueScope Steel, one of India’s leading producers of color-coated steel and building solutions, launched a sustainability initiative, in Rajasthan, aimed at collecting and recycling plastic waste, specifically the plastic guard film used with its flagship retail brand DURASHINE®.

DURASHINE® is a premium steel roofing product offering durable and aesthetically superior solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

These sheets are protected by a thin plastic guard film that prevents abrasion and scratches during transportation and storage, preserving their coating and paint finish. Tata BlueScope Steel encourages the immediate removal of this guard film after installation to ensure proper disposal and recycling.

As part of this initiative, Tata BlueScope Steel aims to reduce the environmental footprint of its products by creating a collection-and-recycling ecosystem of plastic guard films through fabricators.

This approach not only promotes sustainable practices within the industry but also provides an additional income stream for fabricators who participate by depositing collected guard films at designated dealer locations in Rajasthan’s Pali, Udaipur, and Degana, where the pilot project was initiated.

“Tata BlueScope Steel is committed to driving sustainability across our operations. By partnering with local fabricators and a government-approved recycler, we aim to tackle plastic waste while also supporting the community and have received positive feedback. This initiative reflects our dedication to responsible business practices,” said Ajay Rattan, Vice President of Building Products – Infra, Safety, Sustainability & Corporate Communication), at Tata BlueScope Steel.

To facilitate this process, the company has partnered with a government-approved recycler and has also launched training programs under its Saksham initiative to enhance fabricators’ skills in handling DURASHINE® sheets.

Fabricators are incentivized to collect and return the guard films, making the initiative both environmentally beneficial and economically rewarding for those involved.

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PUNE Tata BlueScope Steel, an equal joint venture between Tata Steel and BlueScope Steel and a leading manufacturer of coated steel, has launched ShelterChamps, a loyalty program tailored for fabricators. This initiative not only underscores Tata BlueScope Steel’s commitment to its fabricators but also highlights their indispensable role as pillars of the construction industry.

Recognizing their pivotal role, ShelterChamps is designed to empower fabricators, offering a comprehensive suite of benefits aimed at enhancing their skills, financial security, and professional growth. Safety first is a priority for the Company and therefore the loyalty program includes medical insurance for fabricators and their spouses, as well as accidental insurance for fabricators and their workers. Additionally, they supply essential tools and safety gear to safeguard worker well-being.

CR Kulkarni, Vice President – Marketing and Strategic Sourcing, Tata BlueScope Steel, said, “Fabricators are the true artisans, turning mere materials into works of art. Their role goes beyond sales; it’s about ensuring proper implementation and safety standards. With ShelterChamps, we are not only expressing gratitude to our fabricators but also investing in their future. With this program, we are confident in achieving our ambitious goals for the next decade.”

At the heart of ShelterChamps is a commitment to upskilling fabricators and providing them with the necessary resources to thrive in a competitive market environment. By offering top-tier training sessions and certifications, Tata BlueScope Steel helps fabricators with the expertise and credibility needed to excel in their craft, given the type of tough working and climatic situations the fabricators face. This also enhances the overall quality of construction projects, driving customer satisfaction and loyalty. As part of the program, TBSPL also recognizes and rewards top-performing fabricators for their exceptional performance.

“Our groundbreaking fabricator program emphasizes customer satisfaction and industry development. With over 400-500 programs in 17 years, we’re fostering fabricator adaptation to new technology. Including contractors, interior designers, and carpenters, our comprehensive training module ensures quality service. Upholding our ethos, we prioritize societal impact, safety, and craftsmanship,” said Vikas Pundir, Vice President of sales.

In addition to skill enhancement, ShelterChamps addresses the financial needs of fabricators through scholarship programs for their children. Tata BlueScope Steel empowers fabricators to expand their operations, invest in cutting-edge technologies, and take on larger projects. This not only benefits fabricators but also fuels the growth of the construction industry, creating a ripple effect of prosperity across the ecosystem.

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PUNE: Tata BlueScope Steel, a leading player within the color-coated steel industry officially unveiled its ‘Shelter for All’ initiative at their Prarambh event in Pune, marking a transformative step towards compassionate corporate responsibility. 

‘Shelter for All’ is an integral part of Tata BlueScope Steel’s business strategy, ushering in a new era of purpose-driven initiatives. This initiative launched with a vision to extend beyond traditional corporate goals, signifies the company’s commitment to creating sustainable solutions in diverse areas such as human life, goods, animal shelters, and agri-produce storage. Rooted in the core value of compassion, ‘Shelter for All’ underscores Tata BlueScope Steel’s dedication to making a tangible impact in the world, transcending the boundaries of conventional product promotion. 

Anoop Kumar Trivedi, Managing Director, Tata BlueScope Steel, said, “At Tata BlueScope Steel, our commitment goes beyond providing best-in-class coated steel. With ‘Shelter for All’, we aim to enhance lives and raise awareness about critical shelter and housing issues.”

He further added, “Shelter for All is an idea that will include providing shelter to all things – living and non-living. The initiative will aim at sheltering animals, hangars for planes, docks or more for ships, metro stations, and any other needs of the society, to put it simply – anything and everything will be sheltered by our new initiative! With this initiative we aim to be a part of the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of a New India. #ShelterForAll stands for physical as well as emotional support to the needy! And I take this opportunity to ensure all our stakeholders take appropriate steps to fulfill this promise”

The event featured a series of distinguished speakers, each contributing unique perspectives to the theme of sustainable development and community upliftment. Padma Shri and India’s first Paralympic gold medallist, Murlikant Petkar, captivated the audience with his story of triumph over adversity. His talk drew a compelling parallel between his journey of resilience and the ongoing struggles of individuals in need of reliable shelter, underscoring the power of persistence and community support. Atul Gadgil, Director of Operations of Maha-Metro, highlighted in an individual capacity, the critical intersection of affordable housing and urban development. He emphasized the significance of incorporating sustainable and accessible housing solutions within major urban projects, using the Pune Metro as a prime example. Jyoti Pathania, with her deep roots in social work through Chaitanya Mahila Mandal in Pune, focused on the societal dimensions of housing. She spoke passionately about the crucial role of non-governmental organizations in bolstering government efforts, particularly in providing support to women and children in vulnerable situations. Ajit Ranade, who has served on various committees of the Reserve Bank of India and has worked as a Chief economist for various corporate organizations, highlighted the growth of India and his feedback on the economy.

Adding to the spectrum of perspectives, Sangram Gaikwad, Income Tax Commissioner, delved deeper into India’s evolving economic landscape. He added, “India’s path to a robust and inclusive future is fundamentally linked to key macro-microeconomic elements, and initiatives like ‘Shelter for All’ are crucial in this context. On a macro level, they stimulate economic activity by generating employment, fostering industrial growth, and promoting technological innovation. At a micro level, they directly impact the quality of life by improving living standards and providing stable livelihoods, aligning with our broader goals of achieving a self-reliant India.” The collective insights of these speakers enriched the dialogue at the event, offering a nuanced and comprehensive perspective on the challenges and potential solutions in realizing the vision of ‘Shelter for All’.

Tata BlueScope Steel also announced the launch of ‘TaBluZTalk’, an exclusive newsletter for the coated steel industry, and enthusiasts wanting to make their career in this industry. Unveiled at the Prarambh event, it aims to bring together subject matter experts and industry veterans to endorse their views and share experiences, enriching the knowledge base of the sector. Tata BlueScope Steel’s recent business expansion in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, as part of ‘Project Vistaar’, and the celebration of 25 years of their flagship brand, COLORBOND®, offers a compelling narrative of how the company’s business goals align with community upliftment. This expansion strategy focuses on providing high-quality color-coated roofing and cladding solutions tailored to the unique needs of these markets, signifying Tata BlueScope Steel’s strategic commitment to regional development. The company’s growth in these areas not only strengthens its market presence but also supports local economies and communities.

The network expansion will offer top-quality products closer to home for customers and will bolster smaller enterprises, allied services, and employment opportunities in the region. This growth aligns with Tata BlueScope Steel’s vision of ‘#ShelterforAll’, aiming to enhance lives, support communities, and create a lasting and positive influence in the world.

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INDIA: Primetals Technologies and JSW Steel USA have agreed to upgrade the slab casting infrastructure at its Mingo Junction, Ohio, plant. The project encompasses steelmaking, secondary metallurgy, and continuous casting processes, the project is expected to enable JSW Steel USA to produce a wider range of sophisticated slab steels to diversify its product portfolio for additional markets.

Work on the project has begun and is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2025.

Installing the largest vacuum tank degasser in North America

Primetals Technologies will install a 230-metric-ton vacuum tank degasser (VTD) with a dry mechanical vacuum pump system. This will be North America’s largest twin station vacuum tank degasser (VTD), allowing JSW Steel USA to produce cleaner steel and reduce levels of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sulfur in different process steps.

“JSW Steel USA wanted to install this VTD at their existing Mingo Junction site with significant footprint and height restrictions,” said Joerg Buttler, Head of Upstream Business for Primetals Technologies USA. “Working closely with JSW’s Mingo team, we were able to create a custom design that worked for the space, budget, and metallurgical targets.”

The VTD design includes all the mechanical and electrical equipment for the plant, including the mechanical dry pumps, vacuum filters, and dust catcher. It includes integrating new material handling technologies, associated auxiliary systems, metallurgical process models, and complete Level 1 and Level 2 automation systems.

“We look forward to the successful completion of these upgrades to strengthen our service capabilities and meet the growing needs of the renewable energy and infrastructure markets while in line with the Build America – Buy America Act (BABAA),” said Jonathan Shank, Chief Operating Officer of JSW Steel USA – Mingo Junction. “The project will strengthen our commitment to sustainability while providing additional momentum for growth by widening our product portfolio.”

Remarkably short downtime for the caster upgrade

For the 2-strand continuous caster upgrade, the project scope includes key mechanical equipment, Level 1 automation for strand No. 2, a complete Level 2 automation system, and the mold monitoring system Mold Expert. Moreover, JSW Steel USA has signed up for a long-term software subscription model, based on a software as a service (SaaS) concept.

Revamping a continuous slab caster usually means a shutdown period of several months. However, in this project, Primetals Technologies managed to cut the downtime to 30 days. This timeline is possible by keeping the concrete foundations and strand-supporting structure. In that way, there is no need for time-consuming demolition work. The new strand containment will be fixed with a specially designed adapter solution, which is another important factor influencing the short downtime.

A patented continuous bending and straightening process, Smart Segment allows for online and remote adjustments of the roll gap at one of the strands. This strand will be dedicated to producing API grades and plates of high quality for the US market. The setting of the Smart Segments is based on advanced mathematical models developed by Primetals Technologies. These models ensure that the caster already in the design phase is optimized to eliminate the risk of unsteady mold-level bulging.

Models for quality improvements

Having real-time knowledge about the exact temperature at any point within a continuously cast strand is highly valuable for achieving fully optimized secondary cooling of the slabs. This is made possible with Dynacs 3D, a secondary-cooling model for adjustment of cooling setpoints. Additionally, the model calculates the point of final strand solidification, which enables exact control of the cooling process. The caster will also be equipped with DynaGap Soft Reduction 3D, a dynamic soft-reduction package that gives operators precise control during slab solidification and significantly improves internal quality by reducing center segregation. DynaGap is a strand-guide system, allows operators to adjust the roll gap at the push of a button.

Key facts: JSW Steel USA’s new vacuum tank degasser

• Plant type: Twin-type vacuum degasser with vessel car and fixed and liftable cover
• Capacity: 230 million tons
• Major Equipment: vacuum filter, dust catcher, and set of dry mechanical pumps

Key facts: JSW Steel USA’s new slab caster

• Thicknesses: From 228.6 to 304.8 millimeters
• Widths: From 991 to 2,032 millimeters
• Radius: 10.5 meters
• Metallurgical length: 26.45 meters

Key facts: automation systems subscription model

• JSW Steel USA receives new releases, upgrades, and updates regularly
• The service package included in the annual license fee also includes remote support for troubleshooting, advice, training, fine-tuning, or optimization
• The automation systems stay compatible with the latest hardware and operating systems, new functions can easily be integrated in the future, and capital investments are replaced by annual operating expenses

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KALYANI FeRRESTA steel products are manufactured in an Electric Arc Furnace using electricity from 100% of renewable energy sources and more than 70% recycled scrap material with zero GHG footprints. KALYANI FeRRESTA PLUS has Net Zero GHG emissions per ton of Crude steel whereas KALYANI FeRRESTA has very low GHG emissions of <0.19 tCO_2e per MT of Crude Steel. Customers purchasing KALYANI FeRRESTA & KALYANI FeRRESTA PLUS steel products will get Green Steel certificates jointly issued by DNV Business Assurance India Private Limited & Saarloha which they can use to claim their Scope 3 emissions reduction.

Speaking at the launch, Shri. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation said, “A sunrise day for India’s steel sector, as India initiates green steel production using renewable energy. The Kalyani Ferresta specialty steel plant will herald a new path for producing steel sustainably with near-net zero carbon emission.

The steel sector is the foundational force for the development of the nation. This initiative will help transform the steel sector’s long-standing identity from a carbon-emitting “hard to abate sector”, to a reduced carbon emitting-green steel-producing industry. It will also be instrumental in materializing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Net Zero by 2070.

My best wishes to the Kalyani Group for the trailblazing initiative, and hope that this would serve as a guiding light in the domain of socially-conscious business”

Speaking at the launch, Shri. Amit Kalyani, Deputy Managing Director, Bharat Forge said, “We are stepping into the era of sustainable development. At Kalyani group, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprints and KALYANI FeRRESTA is a significant step toward realizing the larger vision of achieving carbon neutrality. Green Steel is the future of the world economy and given the vast renewable energy potential of India, we can lead from the front.”

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