In a significant step towards advancing India’s green industrial transition, the Ministry of Steel organized a one-day Chintan Shivir* at the National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST), Mandi Gobindgarh, to deliberate on green steel manufacturing with a special focus on the secondary steel sector. The high-level meeting brought together policymakers, CPSE representatives, industry leaders, technical experts, and stakeholders to discuss challenges, opportunities, and emerging low-carbon technologies in steel production.
The Chintan Shivir was inaugurated by Shri Sandeep Poundrik, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, in the presence of the Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Joint Secretary, and other senior officials, along with representatives from industry associations and the secondary steel segment. The discussions marked the beginning of focused efforts to scale up green steel production in a sector that forms a crucial pillar of India’s steel ecosystem.
In his keynote address, Shri Sandeep Poundrik highlighted that the secondary steel sector contributes nearly 47% of India’s total steel production. He also noted that India continues to witness steady growth in steel production, consumption, and installed capacity, with an annual growth rate of 8–10%. He appreciated NISST’s role in strengthening the sector through regular training programmes conducted across major steel clusters in the country.
He further informed that NISST has been designated as the nodal agency for green steel certification and has issued certificates to 76 industries, covering approximately 10.98 million tonnes of production. The Ministry is also working on an incentive scheme aimed at encouraging technological upgradation in the secondary steel sector to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.
Shri Daya Nidhan Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel and Chairman, NISST, emphasized the institute’s role in capacity building and the importance of adopting environmentally sustainable technologies to align the sector with national decarbonization goals.
Technical sessions during Chintan Shivir 2026 focused on low-carbon steelmaking technologies, including green hydrogen injection in blast furnaces, hydrogen-based rotary kiln iron-making, and the deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to optimize renewable energy utilization and reduce grid dependence. Discussions also covered vertical shaft-based Direct Reduced Iron production using water gas as a reductant, offering greater fuel flexibility and lower emissions.
The deliberations additionally examined export opportunities for alloy steel and the potential impact of global regulatory frameworks such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on carbon-intensive sectors.
Overall, the Chintan Shivir provided a collaborative platform for policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to exchange insights on technology, policy support, and sectoral challenges, while reinforcing the Ministry of Steel’s commitment to promoting sustainable, competitive, and low-carbon growth in India’s steel industry.
* Chintan Shivir: A policy brainstorming and consultation session organized by the Government of India to facilitate in-depth discussions among policymakers, industry stakeholders, and experts on key sectoral issues.
(IRuniverse Rohini Basunde)
