UNDP/GEF : Assuring benefits to small re-rollers

India sets the steel production target of 100 million tons by 2020 which looks difficult but not impossible. The Ministry of Steel has been striving to educate industry players with the latest cost-effective and energy efficient technologies for steel making. The large and medium-large size companies are efficient enough to update themselves with the most modern technologies available but leftovers are least bothered of energy efficiency and production improvement because of huge capital investment and most importantly the increasing production requirement to meet rising demand. Despite having all technological support from the technocrats of the industry, the re-rollers have failed to fetch the desired result thus, making a huge loss of national resources. Now, the government has decided to prepare with a Cell which may help re-rollers to use their hundred percent efficiency in productive manner. Through this project the unorganized sector and technologically-backward companies would be tapped for energy enhancement purposes, says J P Singh, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of steel & National Director of this project in an interview with Steelworld. Excerpts :

What would be the major role of Project Management Cell of UNDP/GEF Project (Steel) ?
The Project Management Cell will be the major vehicle for implementation of the UNDP/GEF Project of Energy Efficiency improvement in the Steel Re-rolling mills sector. They would draw up an implementation / work plan and after obtaining appropriate approval from the Project Steering implementation they would take necessary steps for implementation of the project.

As a technology facilitator, would the project concentrate only on environmental issues or production enhancement programme also ?
The project is designed to remove barriers in energy efficiency improvement in the steel re-rolling mills sector. This would imply technological upgradation and adoption of technology which reduces green house gas emissions in the country. Thus, the project is both environmentally and technologically competitive. The project objective would be met by setting 30 model units over 5 years and this would have a demonstration effect which is expected to improve the overall technology level in the industry as well as improve efficiency and bring down gas emissions.

India is targeting 100 million tonnes steel production by 2020. How effective such cells would be as far as production target goes ?
The secondary steel industry will be a significant contributor to the overall target of producing 100 million tonnes by 2020. Presently, this sector produces about 40% of the finished steel in the country and it is expected that this ratio would be maintained in the future as well. The project targets this sector which has been largely unorganized and technologically backward.

With the new technology been promised, do you think the existing technology and guidelines for green house emission is outdated ?
The existing technology is outdated and does not meet the environmental objectives. New technology package which have been evolved by the project team will not only meet the environmental objectives and improve energy efficiency but they will also upgrade the general technological level in the industry.

Would the project cover mining or it will deal only with steel re-rolling mills ?
The project deals only with steel re-rolling mills and composite mills having induction furnaces.

How can a rolling mill get associated with this project ?
What are the norms and procedures being followed ? Along with development of 30 model units, we will be developing 150 pipe line projects. Units which are interested can also apply to the Project Management Cell and obtain necessary information.