Phase out old technology plants: Steel ministry

The Centre today asked industries and research laboratories to develop alternate technologies using iron ore and non-coking coal so as to reduce production cost for the steel industry.

"We encourage R&D by extending financial support to develop innovative technologies for agglomeration of Indian lean ores," Union Steel Secretary P K Rastogi said here at an international convention on clean, green & sustainable technologies in iron and steel making.

Though old plants of SAIL and Tata Steel have been modernised, the technology in most other steel plants are still obsolete leading to low productivity, high energy consumption and high environmental emission.

"We are still far behind the world bench mark and hence require fresh thoughts to improve our performances," he said.

The improvement in performance is possible only through adoption of clean technologies that could sustain the growth and development of the sector in the future, he said.

"We have to gradually phase out all inefficient production units in favour of clean, green, enegry efficient and environment friendly processes at the earliest," Rastogi added.