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Key Points

Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy visited Salem Steel Plant, praising its role in India's 300 MT production target by 2030. He emphasized sustainable steelmaking through Electric Arc Furnace technology and renewable energy. The plant's speciality steel is crucial for defence, railways, and aerospace sectors. Kumaraswamy called for full capacity utilization to strengthen India's stainless steel ecosystem.

Key Points: Kumaraswamy Says Salem Steel Plant Key to India's 300 MT Target

  • Salem Steel Plant vital for India's 300 MT steel target by 2030
  • EAF-based production aligns with Net Zero goals
  • Focus on speciality steel for defence and railways
  • Push for renewable energy to boost efficiency
2 min read

Salem steel plant to play key role in achieving 300 MT production target by 2030: Minister

Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy highlights Salem Steel Plant's role in India's 300 MT production goal and sustainable steelmaking during his visit.

"This plant reflects the true spirit of Make in India – HD Kumaraswamy"

New Delhi, June 21

Steel is not just a material but the backbone of national development and from infrastructure to innovation, the government’s goal is 'growth with responsibility', Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, HD Kumaraswamy, has said.

During his visit to Salem Steel Plant, a unit of SAIL, the minister said the level of technological sophistication and discipline I’ve seen here is commendable.

"This plant reflects the true spirit of Make in India,” the minister noted.

The visit came as part of the broader vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India a global leader in steel production, targeting 300 million tonnes (MT) by 2030, achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070, and building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

During his tour of the plant, Kumaraswamy observed first-hand the comprehensive process of steel production — from raw scrap to molten metal and finished slabs.

He visited critical operational areas including the Scrapyard, Steel Melting Shop, Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), and Slab Caster. He also witnessed advanced equipment like the Torch Cutting Machine and the transformation of molten iron into hot rolled coils and cold rolling mill.

The Electric Arc Furnace-based route at Salem plays a key role in cleaner, sustainable steelmaking aligned with India’s decarbonisation commitments.

Kumaraswamy also visited the Cold Rolling Mill, where premium-quality stainless steel is produced for wide-ranging uses.

“The finished products emerging from this plant touch millions of lives every day from homes to industries,” he stated.

These outputs serve critical sectors such as railways, defence, energy, infrastructure, and home utilities, making Salem Steel Plant a cornerstone in India’s stainless steel ecosystem.

The discussions addressed key bottlenecks, explored strategic interventions, and prioritised increasing production in speciality steel, a segment vital for defence, railways, aerospace, and precision engineering.

“We are committed to revitalising this strategic asset. Speciality steel is the future, and Salem Steel plant can become more cost-efficient by using renewable energy which includes solar and wind. There should be full capacity utilisation and deciding on the final product mix,” said Kumaraswamy.

—IANS

- IANS

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Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the Salem steel plant article:
R
Rajesh K.
Great to see focus on sustainable steel production! ♻️ Salem plant's EAF technology shows India can balance industrial growth with environmental responsibility. Hope other plants also adopt cleaner methods. Make in India should mean Green in India too!
P
Priya M.
As someone from Salem, this plant has been our pride for decades. But workers here have faced many challenges - hope the minister's visit brings real improvements in working conditions and fair wages, not just production targets.
A
Arvind S.
Ambitious 300 MT target! But we must ensure quality isn't compromised for quantity. Our infrastructure projects need world-class steel - substandard materials could risk lives. Hope SAIL maintains strict quality control.
S
Sunita R.
Good initiative but what about the land and water pollution caused by steel plants? My uncle worked in Bokaro plant and developed respiratory issues. Clean production is good, but worker health must be priority #1.
V
Vikram J.
Speciality steel for defence is crucial with China at our borders! 🇮🇳 We must reduce import dependence. Hope Salem plant gets all support to make advanced steel for our tanks, ships and aircraft. Jai Hind!
M
Meena L.
While appreciating the vision, I worry about displacement of local communities for plant expansions. Growth should be inclusive - steel plants must create jobs for nearby villagers and support local schools/hospitals as CSR.

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