Top bureaucrat says LD slag is accumulating. But what is it?

New Delhi: A top bureaucrat of the Ministry of Steel said on Tuesday that LD slag — a by-product produced in the steelmaking process — is accumulating and needs to be used. This is an issue and the industry needs to learn from other countries' experiences, said Ruchika Chaudhry Govil, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Steel.

Speaking at a conference on 'Promoting Awareness and Usage of Iron & Steel Slag – Ushering in a New Era,' organised by FICCI in partnership with the Ministry of Steel, Govil said that the government will facilitate experience sharing.

'Waste material has economic value'

"The world is producing LD slag and this waste material has an economic value and is being used by other countries. Instead of inventing the wheel all over again, we need to have information sharing and collaboration. Ministry of Steel will be happy to act as a facilitator," she said.

LD slag, a by-product of a steel making process, is not being used in India unlike the blast furnace slag which is being commercially used in several applications mainly by cement manufacturers.

'LD slag production set to rise'

Govil said that the Indian steel industry is looking at 300 million tonnes capacity by 2030 from the current capacity of about 140 million tonnes. This growth will only increase the production of both blast furnace and LD slag from the current 27 million tonnes and 12 million tonnes per annum, respectively, Govil noted.

"LD slag has posed a problem for us as it is not being used at all. The LD slag has been accumulating over the years," she said. Govil also urged the industry to highlight the stumbling blocks and submit their comments in the next two weeks.