India to update scrap steel policy

India’s Ministry of Steel released a draft steel scrap policy, which is aimed at curtailing import dependency and make the nation more self-sufficient by producing high-quality ferrous scrap domestically, according to a report from the Press Trust of India (PTI). The Ministry of Steel has requested that stakeholders send comments on this policy by July 14.

The draft policy states that it aims to “promote circular economy in the steel sector [and] to promote a formal and scientific collection, dismantling and processing activities for end-of-life products that are sources of recyclable (ferrous, nonferrous and other nonmetallic) scraps [that] will lead to resource conservation and energy savings and setting up of an environmentally sound management system for handling ferrous scrap.” The policy also states that it aims to ensure that the nation can process and recycle products in an organized, safe and environmentally friendly manner. Additionally it aims to decongest Indian cities from end-of-life (ELV) vehicle reuse of ferrous scrap.

The nation had initially launched a National Steel Policy 2017 two years ago to develop a globally competitive steel industry. That policy states that it aims to “develop a globally competitive steel industry by creating 300 million [tons per year] of steel production capacity by 2030 with a contribution of 35 to 40 percent from electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and induction furnaces. Although ferrous scrap is the main raw material for the secondary steel sector, the primary sector also uses scrap in the charge mix of basic oxygen furnace to improve efficiency, minimize cost of production and other process needs.”

To read the full policy, click here. Recycling Today also wrote about India’s recycling goals in its March edition.