‘Govt. working on green steel policy’

The Steel Ministry has begun work on formulating a comprehensive green steel policy that includes defining the manufacturing process, the skillset required and availability of funding support, sources told businessline.

A complete decarbonisation strategy (policy) is in the works, a senior official of the Ministry said. In layman’s terms, green steel refers to steel made with lowcarbon emission.

Previously, some 13odd task forces had been formed to determine the various modalities around green steelmaking, including a definition of the offering. Quite recently, the 14th task force was set up to explore the option of using biochar or biomass (as an alternative in blast furnace) in steelmaking, thereby bringing down carbon emissions during the manufacturing process.

“The Steel Ministry is working on a detailed decarbonisation strategy. The reports of the committees are at various stages of discussions. We are synthesising these documents into a coherent report,” the official said, adding it will “soon” start consultation across Ministries, post which this report (greensteel policy) will be put up in the public domain.

According to official data, the domestic steel sector accounts for 12% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions with an emission intensity of 2.55 tonne of CO2 per tonne of crude steel produced, compared with the global average of 1.9 tonnes of CO2.

Pilot projects

India is also exploring the process of having its own purehydrogen based DRI (direct reduction of iron) technology and the detailed project report so prepared “is under scrutiny”.

“A consortiumbased pilot for hydrogen based DRI facility is also being explored,” the official added.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has allocated ₹455 crore for piloting the use of hydrogen in steel making and already formulated a scheme.

(The writer is with The Hindu businessline)