In news

The Government of India decided to enhance Steel intensity in the Rural sector and move towards
“Green Steel” or “Low Carbon Steel” manufacturing to make India a Manufacturing Hub.

Vision

The government is developing a long-term action plan and policies. Many targets have been set in the National Steel Policy 2017 vision to expand India’s steel production capacity to 300 million tonnes by 2030-31, per capita steel consumption to 160 kg, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Objectives of the govt. move

• To achieve the roadmap of carbon neutrality by 2050
• To develop a multi-track approach
• Establish carbon recycling blast furnace and CCU (Carbon capture and utilization) and direct hydrogen ironmaking
• To promote industry-leading electric arc furnace technology
• Better R&D facilities by introducing new technologies.

Why there is, need to switch?

The iron and steel industry in India is the greatest single energy consumer and CO2 emitter in the industrial sector, it is imperative that the steel industry shift to “Green Steel” or “Low Carbon Steel” manufacturing to combat climate change.

Government Initiative

• To minimise the steel industry’s reliance on coal, the government is working on projects such as coal gasification and the National Hydrogen Mission. This will not only reduce the steel industry’s reliance on coal, but it will also aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Steel is a key component of our contemporary society, used in various things ranging from cutlery to bridges and wind turbines. However, the method of manufacturing by using coal has exacerbated climate change.

Green Steel

• Green steel is steel with the lowest carbon footprint currently possible, which varies from producer to producer and will continue to evolve over time.
• Steel-making requires stripping oxygen from iron ore to produce pure iron metal.
• In traditional steel-making, it is done by using coal or natural gas in a process that releases CO₂.
• In green steel production, hydrogen made from renewable energy replaces fossil fuels.