Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has formulated National Green Hydrogen Mission for green hydrogen production and usage. Ministry of Steel is a stakeholder in the Mission and has awarded two pilot projects to produce DRI using 100% Hydrogen in vertical shaft and one pilot project to use hydrogen in existing Blast Furnace to reduce coal/coke consumption under this Mission

At present, the available technology for hydrogen based production of green steel is not commercially viable in the country. Hence, Government is supporting pilot projects for use of Green Hydrogen in steel sector.

The steps taken by Government for promoting green steel in steel PSUs are as under:-

            (1)        Ministry of Steel has released a report titled "Greening the Steel Sector in India: Roadmap and Action Plan" in alignment with the recommendations of the 14 Task Forces constituted by this Ministry for this purpose. This report provides a comprehensive overview of steel sector, discusses the various pathways for the decarbonisation of the steel sector and chalks out the strategy, action plan and roadmap for the same.

(2)        Use of steel scrap as raw material reduces emissions by 58%. Steel Scrap Recycling Policy, 2019, formulated by Ministry of Steel envisages to enhance the availability of domestically generated scrap. Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicles Scrapping Facility) Rules September 2021 of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways envisages to increase availability of scrap in the steel sector.

(3)        National Solar Mission launched by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in January, 2010 promotes the use of solar energy and also helps to reduce the emission of steel industry.

(4)        Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, under National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, incentivizes steel industry to reduce energy consumption.

This information was given by the Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri H.D. kumaraswamy in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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MG/KSR

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