Lok Sabha Question No. 1271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Steel Plant in Odisha
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1271 FOR ANSWER ON 11.02.2025

## STEEL PLANT IN ODISHA

1271.  SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is monitoring the progress of the proposed steel plant in Odisha by the joint venture of JSW Steel and POSCO and if so, the current status of the project;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  identified  any  challenges  in  land  acquisition  or environmental clearances for steel projects in Odisha and the steps taken to address them;
- (c)  the  details  of  funds  allocated  and  utilized  under  the  National  Steel  Policy  for promoting steel production in Odisha during the last three financial years;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has assessed the  impact  of  Odisha's steel  sector on employment generation and export growth and if so, the findings thereof; and
- (e) the measures being taken to ensure sustainability and reduce carbon emissions in steel production in Odisha?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE          (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA) MINISTRY OF STEEL

(a)to(d):      Steel is a deregulated sector and the government acts as a facilitator. The decision regarding setting up of a steel plant and its progress is taken by industry themselves  based  on  techno-commercial  consideration including raw material availability,  distance  from  port,  logistics  etc.  The  National  Steel  Policy,  2017  was notified  with  the  objective  of  developing  a  technologically  advanced  and  globally competitive  steel  industry.  The  policy  focuses  on  raw  material  security,  enhanced research and development activities, reduced import dependency, and a lower cost of production to achieve self-sufficiency. It is applicable to all states and the steel sector in general.

- (e)          The  steps  taken  by  Government  towards  decarbonisation  and  improving resource efficiency in the steel sector are as under: -
- i. Ministry  of Steel  has  released a  report titled  "Greening  the  Steel  Sector  in India: Roadmap and Action Plan" in alignment with the recommendations of the 14 Task Forces constituted by this Ministry for this purpose. This report provides  a  comprehensive  overview  of  steel  sector,  discusses  the  various pathways  for  the  decarbonisation  of  the  steel  sector  and  chalks  out  the strategy, action plan and roadmap for the same.

- ii. The Ministry has released the Taxonomy for Green Steel to provide standards for  defining  and  categorizing  the  low  emission  steel,  facilitating  the  green transition of the steel industry.
- iii. Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable  Energy  (MNRE)  has  formulated  National Green Hydrogen Mission for green hydrogen production and usage. Ministry of  Steel  is  a  stakeholder  in  the  Mission  and  awarded  two  pilot  projects  to produce DRI using 100% Hydrogen in vertical shaft and one pilot project to use  hydrogen  in  existing  Blast  Furnace  to  reduce  coal/coke  consumption under this Mission.
- iv. Steel Scrap Recycling Policy, 2019, formulated by Ministry of Steel envisages to  enhance  the  availability  of  domestically  generated  scrap  to  reduce  the consumption of coal in steel making.
- v. Motor  Vehicles  (Registration  and  Functions  of  Vehicles  Scrapping  Facility) Rules September, 2021 of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways envisages to increase availability of scrap in the steel sector.
- vi. National Solar Mission launched by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in January, 2010 promotes the use of solar energy and also helps to reduce the emission of steel industry.
- vii. Perform,  Achieve  and  Trade  (PAT)  scheme,  under  National  Mission  for Enhanced  Energy  Efficiency,  incentivizes  steel  industry  to  reduce  energy consumption.

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