Prathap calls for increasing productivity in steel sector

New Delhi, Nov 4 : Minister of State for Steel A Sai Prathap today urged the Indian steel industry to play a major role to make the best use of modern state of art technology in steel sector.

He said the steel industry should reduce energy consumption from 6.2 giga calories per tonne to world average of 4.2 giga calories and if possible even lower.

The industry should also reduce water consumption per tonne of steel produced by 50 per cent, improve productivity by five folds from the present level of 50 kg per person in next two decades and focus on usage of low grade iron ore, non-coking coal and reduction in emissions, he said.

The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the Steel Summit organised by the CII. The theme of the Summit was 'Advantage India - An enabling framework for growth'.

Mr Prathap also urged the steel industry to collaborate with the government to create a Technology Fund which will open the doors towards a new generation in the Indian steel sector.

The Minister said development of human resources to meet the specific future needs of the steel sector is an important issue.

When the steel capacity in the country will double in the next five years, there would be a similar need for technical manpower.

Creation of institutional arrangement to provide the technologists, skilled manpower and continuous upgradation of skill and knowledge is the need of the hour, he said.

Addressing the conference, Steel Secretary Atul Chaturvedi said the issue of land acquisition is a major challenge for new steel projects and it can be addressed through proper rehabilitation measures.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman of Steel Authority of India Ltd S K Roongta said technology upgradation, improving energy efficiency and increasing productivity remain the biggest challenge.

The 11th plan proposal for 500 billion dollar expenditure on infrastructure will push up the demand for steel substantially, he added.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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