Ministry awards several R&D projects for utilization of different types of slags
Active participation of secondary steel producers and consumers can support and provide the right ecosystem for achieving 300 million tonnes of steel capacity by the year 2030, Minister of Steel Ram Chandra Prasad Singh has told the Gujarati steel sector.
He also emphasized the need to understand the challenges faced by the secondary steel sector and steel consumers of Gujarat, at the meeting held at Surat.
During 16 June 2022 meeting, the Minister stressed upon the synergy between state and central Governments’ policies to meet the intended target.
The role of secondary steel players in Nation building, provision of various scheme for secondary steel sector were discussed at the meeting held by the South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce.
The Minister also visited Diamond Bourse, which was built with around 54,000 tonnes of steel in the form of TMT bars, all produced by secondary steel manufacturers.
This shows that the steel produced by secondary steel producers is meeting all the quality requirement of the high-rise buildings, he underlined.
Singh also advised steel players to take more interest in developing niche steel products so that country’s need can be met indigenously.
On 15 June, Singh had inaugurated the first six-lane highway road made by using Steel Slag at Surat, and impressed upon the need to promote circular economy and resource efficiency by converting all waste into wealth.
Singh made special reference on the need to promote circular economy as the world is witnessing depletion of all types of natural resources.
“In such a scenario, circular economy is the demand of the hour and need to be made mandatory as a part of our lives.”
The road constructed by 100% use of steel processed slag is a real example of converting waste into wealth and improving sustainability of steel plants, he added.
The Minister further said that the use of such material in road construction shall not only increase durability but also help in reducing the cost of construction as slag-based materials are having better properties than natural aggregates.
The experience gained from this road shall be utilized for developing detailed guidelines for widespread usages of steel slag in construction.
Singh informed that his Ministry is exploring all other options to utilize other materials in road construction, agriculture as a replacement to soil nutrients and fertilizers, ballast for railways and making green cement.
The Steel Ministry has already awarded several R&D projects for utilization of different types of slags generated during manufacturing of steel, majority of which are being considered as a liability.
The road constructed by using steel slag is also part of the R&D project sponsored by the Ministry along with other major steel players.
He wants to see increasing use of steel slag in road construction to address the shortage of natural aggregates in the country. fiinews.com
