As per the information given by the union minister of state for steel and rural development in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Steel is committed to reaching the net-zero goal by 2070. By 2030, the steel industry’s carbon emissions are being reduced through promotion of energy and resource efficiency and renewable energy. For the period between 2030 and 2047, utilisation of green hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation and storage are the focus areas. For the long term (between 2047 and 2070) disruptive alternative technological innovations can help achieve the transition to net-zero. For this purpose, the Ministry of Steel is continuously engaging with various stakeholders.
Steps taken for promoting decarbonisation in steel industry includes following:
- Steel Scrap Recycling Policy, 2019 that aims to enhance the availability of domestically generated scrap to reduce the consumption of coal in steel making.
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced the National Green Hydrogen Mission for green hydrogen production and usage. The steel sector has also been made a stakeholder in the Mission.
- The Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicles Scrapping Facility) Rules September 2021 can help increase availability of scrap in the steel sector.
- The National Solar Mission launched by the MNRE in January 2010 promotes the use of solar energy and also helps reduce the emission of steel industry.
- The Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, incentivises the steel industry to reduce energy consumption.
- The steel sector has adopted the Best Available Technologies (BAT) available globally, in the modernisation and expansion projects.
- Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Model Projects for Energy Efficiency Improvement have been implemented in steel plant.
- The Ministry is focusing on raising awareness on the emerging market for green steel among the manufactures.
