Chintan Shivir at NISST begins deliberations on green steel production in India

New Delhi: A one-day Chintan Shivir was organised at the National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST), Mandi Gobindgarh, to initiate focused deliberations on green steel production in India, bringing together policymakers, industry representatives, technical experts and officials from the Ministry of Steel and CPSEs.

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The event was inaugurated by Sandeep Poundrik, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, along with the Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Joint Secretary and other senior officials. Representatives from industry associations and the secondary steel sector also participated in the discussions aimed at advancing sustainable steelmaking practices.

Addressing the gathering, Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik highlighted the significance of India’s secondary steel sector, which accounts for nearly 47 percent of the country’s total steel production. He noted that India remains the only country witnessing simultaneous growth in steel production, consumption and installed capacity, with annual growth rates of 8–10 percent.

He lauded NISST’s role in developing the secondary steel industry and said the institute is actively conducting training programmes twice a month across major steel clusters in the country. He added that NISST has been designated as the nodal agency for green steel certification and has so far issued green steel certificates to 76 industries covering 10.98 million tonnes of capacity.

The Steel Secretary further informed that the Ministry is working on an incentive scheme aimed at encouraging technology upgrades in the secondary steel sector to help reduce carbon emissions. Daya Nidhan Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel and Chairman of NISST, also underscored the institute’s role in capacity building and supporting the sector’s transition towards sustainable production.

The Chintan Shivir 2026 featured detailed discussions on emerging low-carbon technologies, including green hydrogen injection in blast furnaces for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the use of hydrogen in rotary kiln-based iron making. Deliberations also covered the deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to reduce grid dependence and enhance utilisation of off-peak renewable energy.

Experts discussed vertical shaft-based direct reduced iron (DRI) production using water gas as a reductant, highlighting its potential for fuel flexibility and lower emissions. The sessions also reviewed export opportunities for alloy steel products and challenges linked to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The deliberations focused on upcoming green steel technologies, recent breakthroughs and key challenges in achieving sustainable steel production, with the objective of accelerating India’s transition toward green steel and long-term industrial growth.

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