Indian Steel Sector Shows Need for Increased Research and Development

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Researched by Industrial Info India (Delhi, India)--The need to invest in research and development (R&D) in India's steel sectors is becoming increasingly apparent. Important drivers for the need for R&D include energy considerations, process efficiency, material performance and environmental impact. Per capita steel consumption in India is 33 kilograms per person, compared to a global average of 175 kilograms per person. Currently, India contributes only 4% of world steel production. The government intends to raise the production share and the per capita consumption of steel to fuel growth in the sector.

India has hematite iron ore reserves of approximately 14 billion tons. The major issues in Indian iron ore are high alumina content and poor liberation quality. Most iron ore mines in India have been operating by selectively mining high-grade iron ore. To maintain the high-grade production, low-grade lumps and laterites are rejected. The fines with high alumina content are rejected, which leads to huge loss of iron ore values and has adverse impact on the environment.

India's Ministry of Steel has identified some key areas for R&D that are of national importance. This includes beneficiation of low-grade hematite and magnetite iron ore to improve yield and increase economic utilization. There is a proposal to use rotary hearth furnaces. The government is also focusing on research for the use of sea water in the mineral processing industry. The steel sector is studying technology for the development of ultrafine-grained, high-tensile steel products.

With the implementation of these technologies, the steel industry can expect to reduce the cost and improve the quality of steel products, as well as lower emissions and environmental risks.

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