SAIL partners with John Cockerill to pioneer sustainable steelmaking with green hydrogen

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the country’s largest public sector steel producer and a Maharatna company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Cockerill India Limited (JCIL), the Indian subsidiary of the global John Cockerill Group. The agreement, finalized in Mumbai, aims to leverage the combined expertise and technological strengths of both organizations to revolutionize steel production with an emphasis on sustainability and efficiency.

The MoU was signed by Anil Kumar Tulsiani, Director (Finance) of SAIL, and Michael Kotas, Managing Director of the Metals Division at John Cockerill India. This collaboration will focus on exploring innovative solutions to transform iron and steelmaking processes, with particular attention to sustainable “green steel” technologies.

Key objectives of the partnership include establishing a joint venture in cold rolling and processing for carbon steel, including advanced green steel and silicon steel variants (CRGO, CRNO). Both SAIL and John Cockerill will be assessing the integration of green hydrogen into iron and steelmaking operations and would also be incorporating John Cockerill’s cutting-edge processing technologies into SAIL’s future projects.

SAIL and John Cockerill said that they are committed to reimagining conventional steelmaking through advanced technologies. This partnership is anticipated to drive innovation in the sector while aligning with global efforts to transition towards environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices.

SAIL’s dedication to adopting modern, eco-friendly technologies underscores its strategy to address evolving market demands while contributing to a greener future for the steel industry. The collaboration also strengthens SAIL’s efforts to modernize its operations and solidify its position in the global market.

By joining forces with John Cockerill India, SAIL takes a significant step toward achieving its vision of sustainable and efficient steel production, ensuring long-term growth and environmental responsibility in the industry.

Recently, the MNRE Ministry issued guidelines for Implementation of Pilot projects in ‘Steel Sector’ under National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). As part of the efforts, the Modi Government has sanctioned three pilot projects for use of Hydrogen in steel production a month ago.