Estimates show that India will produce 180 million tonnes (mt) of steel by 2020. Consumption of stainless steel has risen 14 per cent in the
last 15 years in the country--higher than the global consumption of 6 per cent. Rapid urbanisation and growth in automobile, infrastructure and
real estate sector aided the boom
India's total iron ore reserve is around 23 billion tonnes and this reserve is expected to sustain the steel industry for more than 50 years,
assuming a constant 100 mt export of iron ore. India exports about 60 per cent of the iron ore it produces
In 1957, India had the capacity of 2.1 mt of steel. International Iron and Steel Institute in Brussels, says, in 2006, India produced over 44 mt of
steel.It is the seventh largest producer of steel
116 agreements were signed in various states--mostly in Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh--which envisage to add a production capacity of
150 mt, with a Rs 357,000-crore investment
Most of the iron ore reserves in India lie in the reserve forests and environmentally sensitive areas in the three states and mining for iron ore
affects tribals and damage biodiversity
In 2005, uae had the highest per capita steel consumption at around 1,314 kg, followed by Chinese Taipei--1,044 kg
and Japan--649 kg. The us's per capita consumption of steel was 382 kg while India's was 38 kg. India's per capita
steel consumption is 5 times lower than the world average of 189 kg
Takes 1.72 tonnes of iron ore
Needs around 31giga joule thermal energy--equivalent to the energy obtained from 938 litre of petrol (11,256 km of distance travelled by a
medium-sized car)
Needs About 498 kWh electrical energy--equivalent to the energy obtained from 54 litre of petrol (648 km of distance travelled by a
medium-sized car)
Needs 6,127 to 7,170 litre of water
Releases around 2.7 tonne green house gases
Generates around 625 kg of solid wastes
Iron and steel industry eats up 15 per cent of the total energy used by industries worldwide. Not resource intensive, iron and steel plants pollute
water and air; among the largest emitters of toxic mercury and greenhouse gases (ghg)
Emission from the plants include pollutants like sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and volatile
organic carbon. Coke oven plants release carcinogenic gas. Water pollutants released by steel plants include effluents ranging from organic and
inorganic pollutants to toxic substances like chromium and cyanide
In India, the industry contributes 15 per cent of the total ghg emissions. Raw materials are stored in the open and
no proper regulations are in existence for unintended fugitive emissions, gaseous pollutants and green house gas emission in the steel sector.
Estimates show that India will emit 486 mt of ghg by 2020
Recycling steel can help meet the growing demand for steel. Ship breaking for steel is, if carried out under an environmentally safe manner, is a
safer alternative. More than 90 per cent of the steel can be recycled from ships
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