Lok Sabha Question No. 1855 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: R&D Projects
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Shri Dineshbhai Makwana, Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Arun Govil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1855 FOR ANSWER ON 11.03.2025

## R&D PROJECTS

1855.  SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA: SHRI ARUN GOVIL: SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the priority areas of Meerut and Hapur for research and development in the steel sector;
- (b)  whether  there  are  any  collaborations  with  academic  institutions  or  private companies for R&D projects, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there are any specific R&D projects aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the steel industry; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)&(b): Ministry of Steel is operating a R&D scheme viz. 'Promotion of Research & Development in Iron & Steel Sector' for providing financial assistance to reputed academic institutions, research laboratories and Indian Steel companies for carrying out research in the Iron and Steel sector. Preference is given to collaborative research by  the  stakeholders  viz.  steel  companies  in  the  public  &  private  sector,  CSIR laboratories  &  academic  institutions.  The  thrust  areas/priority  areas  of  research covered  under  the  scheme  include  research  to  develop  innovative  processes  & technologies to address common issues faced by the steel sector such as improving efficiency, quality & productivities, utilisation of wastes, improving energy efficiency, reducing GHG emission, beneficiation of natural resources etc.

(c)&(d): There are 11 R&D projects under Ministry of Steel's R&D scheme which aim to reduce the carbon footprint of the steel industry. Details of these R&D projects are provided in Annexure.

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## Details of R&D projects under Ministry of Steel's R&D scheme which aim to reduce the carbon footprint of the steel industry

|   S. No | Project Name                                                                                                                                                                      | Implementing Agency          |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
|       1 | Melting and Refining behaviour of gas based DRI and hydrogen based DRI                                                                                                            | IIT Bombay                   |
|       2 | A comparative study on the controlling mechanisms during reduction of iron oxides with CO and hydrogen - Impact on decarbonisation of iron and steel manufacturing                | IIT Bombay                   |
|       3 | Assessment of Design and Operating parameters using Process Simulation for Hydrogen Based DRI Production in: (1) a Continuous Vertical Shaft Reactor (2) a Vertical Batch Reactor | IIT Bombay & IIT Bhubaneswar |
|       4 | Investigation on coal-biomass blends as reductant and fuel in rotary kiln DRI making towards CO2 mitigation                                                                       | IIT Hyderabad                |
|       5 | A laboratory/ pilot scale set up to optimize the process parameters for producing DRI with varying H2 and CO ratio along with 3D Multiphysics modelling of DRI shaft reactor      | IIT Kharagpur                |
|       6 | Decarbonization of DRI process in rotary kiln using hydrogen as reductant                                                                                                         | IIT Roorkee                  |
|       7 | Designing a sustainable, low-energy consuming, and modular CO2 capture and mineralization technology                                                                              | IIT Bombay                   |
|       8 | Developing facile electrocatalytic CO2 to CO conversion technology                                                                                                                | IIT Bombay                   |
|       9 | Large-scale electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to CO and its further valorization                                                                                                 | IIT Bombay                   |
|      10 | Development of Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell & Short Stack for Blast Furnace Top Gas Utilization to Reduce CO2 Footprint in the Iron Making Process                               | CSIR, CGCRI Kolkata          |
|      11 | Simultaneous removal of CO2, SOx & NOx from flue gas and their catalytic conversion intofuels and value added fertilizers                                                         | CSIR, IMMT Bhubaneswar       |