New Delhi, April 26 (HS): Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, addressed the 6th India Steel International Exhibition in Mumbai, highlighting steel’s vital role in India’s economic growth towards the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Acknowledging India as the second-largest steel producer, he described the sector as a Sunrise Sector, essential for local consumption and self-reliance through the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. He emphasized that while steel is the backbone of the economy, coal and mining are foundational. The need for secure access to raw materials like iron ore and coking coal is critical for industry growth.

India recently reached a milestone of 1 billion tons of coal production, meeting 60% of energy needs and 70% of electricity generation. With 85% reliance on imported coking coal, the government launched the Mission Coking Coal in 2021 to boost domestic supply and reduce imports, aiming for 140 million tons of production by 2030. The mission includes enhancing output, expanding coal washing capacity, and auctioning new coking coal blocks. Notable initiatives also involve trials on Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) and innovations in beneficiation.

Additionally, India holds over 35 BT of iron ore reserves, focusing on improving low to medium-grade ores and greenfield mine development.

The National Coal Gasification Mission aims for 100 MT of gasification by 2030 with a ₹8,500 crore investment, focusing on enhancing sustainability and energy security within the steel sector. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, efforts are directed towards developing a sustainable raw material strategy to achieve a steel production capacity of 300 MT by 2030-31.

Reddy emphasized the collaborative role of the Centre, State Governments, and industry in achieving raw material self-sufficiency and establishing India as a global sustainable steel leader. He encouraged participants to engage in policy-making for a greener steel ecosystem.

On the first day of the Steel Expo, Prime Minister Modi, along with Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from three States, stressed the importance of collective development in the sector. On the second day, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary of the Ministry of Coal, discussed the coal sector’s role in realizing the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. He shared the Ministry’s plans for increasing domestic coking coal production and enhancing coal washing practices, while promoting cleaner steelmaking technologies.

The India Steel Expo 2025, organized by the Ministry of Steel, provided a platform for international stakeholders to explore growth strategies, sustainable practices, and innovations in steel competitiveness, signaling India’s rising prominence in the global coal and steel arena.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar