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INDIA'S 1ST NATIONAL HIGHWAY STEEL SLAG ROAD

INDIA'S 1ST NATIONAL HIGHWAY STEEL SLAG ROAD

19-02-2024
  1. In January 2024, the 1st National Highway (NH) steel slag road section on NH-66 Mumbai-Goa was inaugurated.
  2. The technology behind this road is developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI).
  3. JSW Steel constructed a 1 km long four-lane steel slag road section. Around 80,000 tons of CONARC Steel slag were converted into processed steel slag aggregates (mass) for this project.
    1. The CONARC steelmaking process is a steel-making practice that combines electrode arc melting and oxygen steelmaking. It uses electrical and chemical energy to melt and decarburize in separate shells.
    2. The CONARC process uses a raw material feed mix that consists of: 60% hot metal from iron making units like blast furnaces, 38% solid charge, 2% steel scrap
    3. Processed steel slag aggregates surpass natural aggregates in various mechanical properties and are used in all road layers instead of natural aggregates.
  4. CSIR-CRRI has implemented steel slag in road construction projects in Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Arunachal Pradesh. Notable, in 2022, Surat got the country's 1st steel slag road at Hazira.
    1. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) has also built a steel slag road in Arunachal Pradesh.

  5. Benefits of Processed Steel Slag in Road Construction:

    1. This development supports the ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative.
    • This mission will identify, develop, and deploy technologies to treat waste to generate energy, recycle materials, and extract worth.
    • It is one of the nine national missions of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
    1. It signifies a crucial step towards sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly highway construction in India.
    2. It addresses environmental degradation caused by waste steel slag and unsustainable mining and quarrying (process of extracting minerals and natural resources from the earth's surface) of natural aggregates.
    3. The bituminous steel slag road on NH-66 requires 28% less thickness compared to conventional bituminous roads.
    4. These roads are approximately 32% more cost-effective than conventional roads and exhibit better durability.

WORLD'S 2ND LARGEST PRODUCER OF STEEL: INDIA

  1. India has experienced significant growth in the steel sector, becoming the world's 2nd largest producer. The sector is crucial for industries like construction, infrastructure, automobiles, engineering, and defence.

Recent Initiatives for Steel Sector Growth

  1. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Specialty Steel has been included in the PLI Scheme, with a financial outlay of above ₹6000 crore over 5 years.
  1. This aims to boost Specialty Steel manufacturing domestically, attracting investment and promoting technology upgrades.
  1. Green Steel Making: In line with India’s commitments towards net-zero emissions, as outlined in COP-26, the Ministry of Steel (MoS) has taken various steps towards decarbonization of the steel sector
  1. 13 Task Forces, involving industry, academia, and other stakeholders, have been formed by MoS to discuss and recommend decarbonization strategies.
  2. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched a National Green Mission for green hydrogen production, involving the steel sector as a stakeholder.
  3. The steel industry is implementing Best Available Technologies (BAT) from global sources in modernization and expansion projects.
  1. Engagement with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan:  MoS integrated capabilities of Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) into the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
  1. Geolocations of over 2000 steel units were uploaded to gain insights into steel production facilities.
  2. This information will assist in planning railway line extension, inland waterways, highways, ports, and gas pipeline connectivity.
  1. Steel Scrap Recycling Policy (SSRP): SSRP, notified in 2019, facilitates establishment of metal scrapping centres for scientific processing and recycling of ferrous scrap, including end-of-life vehicles.
  2. National Infrastructure Pipeline Projects: MoS actively addresses issues related to National Infrastructure Pipeline projects of steel companies with concerned Central/State Government, Ministries/Departments.
  3. National Steel Policy: It outlines a roadmap for long-term growth of the Indian steel industry by 2030-31.

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