Jadavpur University to set up Centre of Excellence for green hydrogen research
The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has commissioned its 2 MTPA pellet plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh, completing its Rs.5,427 crore integrated project.
The project comprises an iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, a 135-km, 15 MTPA slurry pipeline and the Nagarnar pellet plant, which uses Straight Grate Induration technology. It will enable value addition from Bailadila iron ore fines and slimes, reduce road transport of ore and strengthen NMDC’s presence across the iron ore value chain, the Ministry of Steel said on 6 Oct in an industry update.
NMDC’s iron ore production rose 8% YoY to 4.04 Mt in September 2026, taking H1 FY 2026–27 output to 27.3 Mt, up nearly 23% over H1 FY 2025–26, keeping the company on track towards its annual production targets.
Separately, SAIL and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) have signed an MoU for the joint development and operation of SAIL’s Indikatta Ramnagore Coal Block and BCCL’s East of Damagoria (Kalyaneshwari) Coal Block in West Bengal. The partnership strengthens cooperation between the two CPSEs and supports the development of domestic coking coal sources.
SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant commissioned an in-house AI-based safety surveillance system at Hot Strip Mill-2. The system uses 10 IP cameras and computer vision to detect helmet violations and trigger automated alarms. It also logs time-stamped events, and future phases will extend it to other PPE violations, unsafe acts, fire and other hazards.
Meanwhile, 101 distinct steel producers have been issued Green Steel Certificates across the lists issued up to September 2026 under the Ministry’s green initiative. The certification covers products including TMT bars, HR/CR coils, plates, wire rods, pipes and other steel products, with a large majority of certified products receiving 5-star ratings, reflecting the growing adoption of lower-emission steelmaking practices across India’s steel industry.
Elsewhere, Jadavpur University, in collaboration with SAIL, DVC and HURL, is setting up a Rs.8.18-crore Centre of Excellence for green hydrogen research, one of four approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. SAIL will test and apply the technologies developed at its facilities, supporting green hydrogen use in steel, power and fertiliser production under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The Ministry has also decided to set up a Steel Industry Safety Council (SISC), an apex body chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Steel, to strengthen safety standards, accident prevention and safety culture across the steel industry. A dedicated Steel Industry Safety Directorate (SISD) will support the Council through safety audits, investigation of serious incidents and issuance of safety standards suited to Indian conditions, covering iron and steel producers and CPSE mines.
The Ministry also reported 85.1 million tonnes of crude steel production during April-Sept 2026, up 2.9 percent on 82.7 million tonnes produced during the same period of last year.
Finished steel production was 81.8 million tonnes during the same period, up 3.7 percent on 78.8 million tonnes a year ago, said the Ministry.
Finished steel consumption was 84.9 million tonnes in April-Sept 2026, an increase of 7.5 per cent on 79 million tonnes during the corresponding period of 2025, the Ministry said, adding that annua crude steel capacity was 222.9 million tonnes. Fiinews.com
