SAIL's Salem steel plant to adopt renewable energy, expand speciality steel output: Kumaraswamy
New Delhi: Union minister for steel and heavy industries
H D Kumaraswamy
on Thursday reviewed the operations of the Salem Steel Plant, a unit of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), and emphasised the need to increase capacity utilisation, expand output of
speciality steel
and explore renewable energy options to enhance cost efficiency.
The minister, during his visit, witnessed the complete steelmaking process including scrapyard operations, steel melting through Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), slab casting and cold rolling. He was also briefed on the plant's contribution to producing stainless steel used in railways, construction, LPG cylinders, pump components and other critical infrastructure sectors.
'Steel is not just a material, it is the backbone of national development. From infrastructure to innovation, our goal is growth with responsibility,' Kumaraswamy said during the visit.
He noted that the plant's EAF-based route aligns with the decarbonisation targets and supports India's
Net Zero 2070
commitment.
The Minister chaired a review meeting with senior officials including the Chairman and Managing Director of SAIL, Joint Secretary (Steel), Executive Director of the Salem Steel Plant and other key stakeholders. The discussion focused on addressing operational bottlenecks and scaling up the production of speciality steel, a segment critical to defence, aerospace, and railway applications.
'We are committed to revitalising this strategic asset. Speciality steel is the future, and Salem Steel Plant can become more cost-efficient by using renewable energy which includes solar and wind. There should be full capacity utilisation and deciding on the final product mix,' Kumaraswamy said.
The visit is part of the Centre's broader vision to transform India into a global steel manufacturing hub, targeting 300 million tonnes of production capacity by 2030 and strengthening the country's self-reliance in high-grade steel.
Kumaraswamy also met labour union representatives and assured them that their concerns would be addressed. He planted a sapling on the premises symbolising commitment to sustainable industrial development.
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