The efforts taken by Government towards decarbonisation and improving resource efficiency in the steel sector while adopting multi-pronged approach 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 and discusses the various pathways for the decarbonisation of the steel sector. It also highlights the challenges in implementation of various key levers of green technologies and chalks out the strategy, action plan and roadmap for the same.

            (2)        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 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.

(3)        Use of steel scrap as raw material plays significant role in reduction of carbon emissions. 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.

(4)        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.

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

(6)        National Steel Policy, 2017 issued by Ministry of Steel promotes adoption of technologies which are conducive to effective and efficient domestic resources with minimum damage to environment and production of high-end and special steel required for sophisticated industrial and scientific applications.

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

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MG/KSR

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