Decarbonizing India: Iron and Steel Sector report

Context: A new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claims that India’s iron and steel sector can produce fewer emissions and increase its output at the same time.

About Decarbonizing India: Iron and Steel Sector report:

• The iron and steel sector is a hard-to-abate sector in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, but it is an equally critical contributor to the economic development of the country.
• India is the second-largest producer of crude steel in the world and plans to almost triple its production by 2030
• The report(Decarbonizing India: Iron and Steel Sector) was released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
• According to it India’s iron and steel sector can produce fewer emissions and increase its output at the same time.
• The analysis shows that it is possible to bring down carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from our iron and steel sector drastically by 2030, while more than doubling India’s output of steel.
• emissions from crude steel production are estimated to grow to almost 2.5 times by 2030.
• This report provides a detailed insight into the GHG emissions of the iron and steel sector and its future emission scenarios for 2030 -the report provides, based on available information, unit and company-wise data on emissions, which will help design the road ahead.
• The report suggests a roadmap for the sector, highlighting the pathways for GHG emissions reduction. The assessment clearly finds there are huge opportunities to bend the carbon dioxide curve for this emission-intensive sector, but it will need planning, technology and adequate funds.

About Iron and Steel Industry in India :

• India surpassed Japan as the second top steel producer in 2019.
• India was the world’s second-largest steel producer.
• China remains the world’s largest crude steel producer .
• India is the largest producer of sponge iron in the world and the 3^rd largest finished steel consumer in the world after China & USA.
• The Government has taken various steps to boost the sector including the introduction of the National Steel Policy 2017 and allowing 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the steel sector under the automatic route.
• The  beginning of the Iron and steel industry was in 1907 with the setting up of the TISCO plant at Jamshedpur.
• The development of the Iron and Steel industry was envisaged during the first five-year plan (FYP), but it was during the second FYP that three integrated projects were started at Bhilai (with erstwhile USSR technical and financial support), Rourkela (with German assistance) and Durgapur (with U.K assistance)
• During the third FYP, the Bokaro steel plant was started (production started in 1972)
• Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Established in 1973, SAIL is a government undertaking and is responsible for the management of steel plants

Distribution of Iron ores:

• The Chota Nagpur plateau is home to all of India’s major steel-making centres, which are spread across four states: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh.

Major Steel Industries  :

• TISCO -Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
• The Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant -Bhadravati, Karnataka
• Bhilai Steel Plant – Chhattisgarh
• Rourkela Steel Plant-Odisha
• Durgapur Steel Plant- West Bengal
• Bokaro Steel Plant-Jharkhand
• Salem Steel Plant-Tamil Nadu
• Visakhapatnam Steel Plant- Andhra Pradesh

MUST READ: Iron Ore

Source: DOWN TO EARTH

Previous Year Questions

Q.1. Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? (2020)

1. Construction of base road
2. Improvement of agricultural soil
3. Production of cement

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2. Consider the following minerals:

1. Bentonite
2. Chromite
3. Kyanite
4. Sillimanite

In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals? (2020)

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 4 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 2, 3 and 4 only