(FE)
The steel ministry wants state-run units under its supervision, such as SAIL and RINL, and state governments to come up with various enablers such as encroachment-free land and steady supply of raw material to help the industry build 25-30 million tonne (MT) additional steel production capacity through the greenfield route by 2024-25.
An estimated Rs 1-1.5 lakh crore investment would be required to create the targeted capacity. India’s current steel capacity of 142 MT is being augmented by 28-30 MT through the brownfield route by 2024-25. The ministry envisages it would be imperative to create additional capacity through the greenfield route to meet the projected 160 MT consumption target by 2024-25. Consumption usually lags capacity. India consumed 99 MT steel in 2018-19.
The steel ministry will do its bit, including facilitating single-window clearance for forest and environment, liaise with different agencies for iron ore linkages, etc to help the industry in creating the additional capacity. But it wants two potential routes, driven by steel CPSEs and state governments to operational the plan.
