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voda 17 maart 2023 08:03

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voestalpine Stahl Selects PSI for Computer Aided Quality Control Upgrade

In January 2023, Austrian voestalpine Stahl, the lead company of the Steel Division of voestalpine Group, successfully went live with the production management system PSImetals version 5.21. After the modernization of the existing Computer Aided Quality Control in the future, voestalpine Stahl will be able to upgrade their system seamlessly with new PSImetals product releases.

The CAQC system at voestalpine Stahl is used to configure and calculate treatment practices in the melt shop, before and during the production process. The upgraded PSImetals 5.21 covers the production process in the melt shop, including basic oxygen furnace, secondary metallurgy lines, continuous casting as well as mould casting.

With the standard functionality of PSImetals, it is possible to configure future requirements instead of performing feature-specific development. Thus, PSI provides long-term access to numerous professionals to support the voestalpine team during future extensions and adjustments.

The PSI Group develops its own software products for optimizing the flow of energy and materials for energy grids, energy trading, public transport and metals production, automotive, mechanical engineering, logistics. The industry-specific products, which are built from standard components, are sold both directly and via the cloud-based PSI App Store and can also be customized by customers and partners themselves. PSI was founded in 1969 and employs more than 2,200 people worldwide.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:03

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China Lifts Unofficial Ban on Australian Coking Coal for All Steel Mills

China has lifted its restrictions on coal imports from Australia, allowing all domestic companies to resume imports from the country, Bloomberg has reported. According to sources, ports and customs offices have been instructed to allow the entry of overseas cargo, including Australian coal.

The ban, which had been in place since October 2020, was partially lifted in January 2023 when four stat -backed importers were granted permission to resume purchases of Australian coal. However, only one shipment has reached China since then, purchased by China Baowu.

China is the largest producer and consumer of coking coal, with coal imports exceeding 290 million metric tons last year. Prior to the ban, Australia supplied over 30 million metric tons of coking coal to China, representing around 40% of the country's total imports.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:04

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Nucor Steel Gallatin Integrates SMS’s MES 4.0 in HSM

Nucor Steel Gallatin has achieved a significant milestone by producing its first hot rolled coil after a comprehensive upgrade of its production lines using SMS digital's Manufacturing Execution Suite MES 4.0® at its Gallatin steel plant in Ghent, Kentucky, USA. The new production planning and scheduling system replaces Nucor's legacy system developed in-house. Following an incremental implementation and software commissioning, the MES project was successfully completed and integrated throughout the plant.

With the implementation of MES 4.0® system from SMS, Nucor can now improve its production planning with a comprehensive modular planning system. The system comprises state-of-the-art technology components, including the Technical Order Generator, Capacity Planner, Production Sequencer, Short Term Scheduling, Quality Manager, and Production Controller. Additionally, SMS offers a Business Intelligence Manager that optimizes business analysis and reporting for better evaluation of the company's productivity and key performance indicators.

The integration between MES 4.0® and the Nucor ERP system was redesigned and implemented simultaneously. As a result, the areas of responsibility can be clearly divided between the systems, resulting in improved planning options and the possibility of rescheduling orders in the short term. MES 4.0® was developed and implemented with advanced data-driven production planning and quality management methods, allowing for minimized product rejects while improving product quality for a faster return on investment.

In the first stage, the brownfield extension was applied to all existing production lines at Nucor. After several integration tests and a successful shadow mode period, in which production data was run through the upgraded system in parallel, the new MES took over from the existing system and went live within just sixteen hours. The new production lines, including a new melt shop, a caster, an extension of the hot strip mill, and a pickling & galvanizing line, were subsequently included in the upgrade.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:04

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Hyundai Steel to Sell Hyundai Steel Beijing Process

According to Korea Herald, Hyundai Steel, South Korea’s second largest steelmaker is planning to sell its Chinese unit, Hyundai Steel Beijing Process, after experiencing years of sluggish sales compounded by the shrunken market share of Hyundai Motor & Kia cars in China. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a potential buyer for the Beijing plant and will soon engage in pre-acquisition due diligence to finish selling the unit during the first half of the year. However, the size of the actual deal has not yet been determined as the due diligence process has not started, according to an official from Hyundai Steel.

Hyundai Steel Beijing Process was built in 2002 near car manufacturing facilities owned by Hyundai Motor and Kia. The steel service center provided steel products to Hyundai Motor Group’s car plants and was able to post annual operating profits of between $7-15 million until 2016. However, after China’s economic retaliation over South Korea’s deployment of the US THAAD anti missile system, the steelmaker’s performance began dwindling, along with decreases in sales for Hyundai Motor and Kia. Between 2017 and 2021, the unit posted a net loss of $81 million, with a net loss of $38 million in 2021 alone, forcing the steelmaker to shut down the Beijing center and start looking for buyers.

The declining sales of Hyundai Motor and Kia cars in China are primarily responsible for the dip in performance for Hyundai Steel Beijing. In 2018, Hyundai Motor’s share of the Chinese car market reached 3.6%, but the figure dropped to 3.4% in 2019, 2.3% in 2020, 1.8% in 2021, and 1.2% in 2022. Likewise, the market share of Kia also fell from 1.7% in 2018 to 0.4% in 2022.

Hyundai Steel will still keep its Tianjin unit for its business in China, but it is selling the Beijing unit due to the poor performance of the steel service center. The combined assets of Hyundai Steel's Beijing unit are currently estimated at around $355 million, with the company's real estate assets valued at around $293 million.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:04

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RINL may Import Billets, Steel Mint

According to a Steel Mint report citing company sources, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited has made an unprecedented move by floating an import tender for 50,000 metric tons of billets for delivery by March 31, 2023. The deadline for receipt of bids was March 13, 2023, and the minimum offer quantity was set at 7,500 metric tons.

The current import prices of BF-BOF could be around $630-640 per metric ton CFR, which translates to ?54,000-55,000 per metric ton landed at Vizag. This move makes commercial sense as BF-BOF route rebars, which is normally used in large infrastructure projects, is currently priced at ?63,000-65,000 per metric ton in India, presenting a spread of ?9,000-10,000 per metric ton, much more that conversion costs

RINL is currently operating with only two functioning blast furnaces, which could be a reason for the import tender to supplement its production. The third blast furnace has been out of operation for over a year, and there is still no clarity on when it will resume operations.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:04

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Brazilian Crude Steel Output in February Shrinks by 9% MoM

According to the Brazil Steel Institute IABr, Brazilian crude steel production in February 2023 was reported to be 2.5 million metric tons, which is a 9% decrease compared to January. In the first two months of 2023, the country's crude steel production reached 5.3 million metric tons, marking a decline of 6% compared to the same period last year, according to a report by Valor.

The finished steel production also retreated by 5% YoY to 1.8 million metric tons in February, while the semis production for sale reached 785,000 metric tons, which is a significant increase of 29% YoY.

The domestic sale of steel products dropped by 4% YoY to 1.5 million metric tons. Meanwhile, exports closed at 1.1 million metric tons, representing an increase of 10% MoM, while imports fell by 14% MoM to 325,000 metric tons. The apparent consumption of steel products reached 1.8 million metric tons, marking a decrease of 10%.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:05

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Vale Trials Green Iron Ore Pellets Production

Vale, the Brazilian mining giant, has taken a significant step towards reducing its carbon footprint by producing iron ore pellets on an industrial scale for the first time without the use of coal, says Reuters. This pilot project, conducted in February in the state of Minas Gerais, saw the production of 15,000 metric tons of coal free pellets made entirely with 100% biocarbon sourced from certified suppliers. The company's traditional production process involves mixing low grade iron ore with coal before heating the mixture in plant furnaces to create pellets. This process is the most carbon-intensive process contributing to Vale's direct emissions, with anthracite coal accounting for around half of the company's greenhouse gas emissions related to pellet production.

According to Mr. Rodrigo Araujo, Vale's head of decarbonization projects, making pellets accounts for 30% of the firm's direct emissions. Vale will carry out further tests this year with the goal of permanently replacing all coal used in its pellet plants with biocarbon by 2030. This development is a major milestone in Vale's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainability in the mining industry.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:05

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Turkey Makes Rebar Tracking System IDIS Mandatory

The Ministry of Treasury & Finance Revenue Administration in Turkey has recently implemented the Construction Rebar Monitoring System IDIS Implementation General Communiqué, which prohibits the sale of rebar without a Safety Label from 1 January 2024. This new system aims to track the production or import, trade, and use of rebar in construction, according to Turkey Post.

Rebar manufacturers or importers are now required to apply a security label or sign to rebar and transfer their user name and password, purchase and sale information to IDIS. The Turkey’s General Directorate of Mint & Stamp Printing House will establish IDIS to ensure the monitoring of the production or importation, trade of construction iron, and the product's use in construction by the construction contractor.

The main goal of IDIS is to monitor the basic data related to the production of construction iron and transfer data to the central system to monitor and follow the delivery processes including manufacturers, exporters, importers, wholesalers, dealers, traders, use in construction, and laboratory tests. The data obtained within the system will be shared by the General Directorate with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Revenue Administration.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:05

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TUBACEX to Supply Umbilicals Tubes Aker Solutions

TUBACEX has secured a major contract worth over €70 million, marking a significant milestone in the umbilicals market and affirming its position as a leading provider of cutting-edge industrial solutions for the energy and mobility sectors. The company will collaborate with Norwegian energy solutions provider Aker Solutions AS to supply 1,000km of umbilical offshore tubes for three North Sea projects.

These tubes are critical components used to control production equipment on the seabed and for fluid injection and corrosion inhibition. The production process for these tubes is highly complex, requiring rigorous nondestructive and X-ray testing.

TUBACEX will manufacture these offshore umbilical tubes at its production facilities in Spain and Austria, with deliveries slated for 2023 and 2024.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:05

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Nucor Lowers Earning Guidance for Jan-Mar Quarter of 2023

Charlotte North Carolina headquartered Nucor Corporation expects January-March 2023 quarter earnings to be in the range of $3.70-3.80 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $4.89 per diluted share in October-December quarter of 2022 and $7.67 per diluted share in the January-March quarter of 2022. The profitability of the steel mills segment is expected to increase in the first quarter of 2023 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 due to higher margins and volumes, with the largest improvement expected to occur at our sheet mills, says Nucor

Within the steel products segment, Nucor expects continued strong profitability in the first quarter of 2023, with some decrease expected from the fourth quarter of 2022 due to slower construction activity and some reductions in realized pricing. Overall, Nucor expects first quarter 2023 steel products segment earnings to be higher than the first quarter of 2022.

In the raw materials segment, excluding the impact of the impairment charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022, Nucor expects increased profitability compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 due to higher volumes at our DRI facilities and scrap recycling and brokerage operations.

On a combined basis, the operating income during the first quarter of 2023 from three business segments is expected to exceed that of the fourth quarter of 2022. However, Nucor expects consolidated net earnings to decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 due to less favorable intercompany eliminations in the first quarter of 2023 and the absence of state tax benefits that were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022. Fluctuations in intercompany eliminations are largely driven by sales activity between segments and the change in value of intercompany inventory at the end of each quarter based on the timing of shipments between segments and to external customers.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:06

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Russia to Keep Excise Tax on Steel & MET on Iron Ore amid Windfall Tax

According to a statement by Russia's Finance Ministry, there are no plans to make any significant changes to how the excise tax on steel and the mineral extraction tax on iron ore are calculated, despite the one-time levy on excess profit for 2021-2022, says Interfax. Russia’s State Secretary & Deputy Finance Minister, Mr. Alexei Sazanov, stated that "Last year, we promptly amended the cut-off price when calculating the excise tax on steel. There are currently no additional changes planned regarding the excise tax on steel.”

Regarding the mineral extraction tax on iron ore, Mr. Sazanov noted that there are ongoing discussions about potential exemptions for underground mining. He acknowledged that the cost of production in underground mining is higher than in traditional mining, and that this factor needs to be considered. Mr. Sazanov further added that discussions with the Russian Steel Association are ongoing and that he expects a resolution to be reached sometime this spring.

voda 17 maart 2023 08:09

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Indian HRC gains on small-tonnage European deals
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Amid fluctuations in global market sentiment, Europe continues to remain India’s favourite market for hot rolled coil sales, mainly on the back of better-paying, small-quantity buyers. Elsewhere, because of stiff competition from China and lower bids, Indian mills are unable to attain their desired price, sources tell Kallanish.

According to sources, demand for bulk tonnages is not as aggressive as it was in previous months; moreover, competition from Vietnam and Japan has further narrowed the scope of bulk exports for India.

According to a market participant, an Indian mill received bids for a bulk-tonnage HRC cargo at around $795-800/tonne cfr southern Europe; however, the deal has not yet been concluded. The mill’s target price is noted at $810-815/t cfr southern Europe, netting back to $750-755/t fob India.

Meanwhile, one Indian mill sold around 3,000 tonnes of a mix of regular and 2-metre-wide structural HRC through a trading firm at $830-835/t cfr France. Following this deal, all Indian majors raised their offers to $830-840/t cfr Antwerp or Bilbao for small tonnages of regular-sized structural HRC.

“[Large-] volume bookings in Europe are down on the slowed sentiment prevailing there,” says a trading source. “Customers like small re-rollers and service centres with acute HRC requirements are paying more.”

Indian mills’ appetite for large-volume deals is low, as they are looking to earn more profit by selling smaller lots in Europe. “They [Indian mills] do not have much to offer, hence they are trying to attain the maximum number,” opines another source.

Following a few small-tonnage deals for cold rolled coil in Europe last week at $890-895/t cfr Antwerp, Indian mills are now indicating around $900-910/t cfr Antwerp for DC-01 grade CRC. Meanwhile, offers for Z100 0.58mm zinc-coated steel were noted at $1,040-1,050/t cfr Antwerp.

Amid the presence of competitive Japanese and Chinese offers in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Indian mills could not conclude any large-tonnage deals. Only one Indian mill was reportedly offering in the region, at $735-740/t cfr GCC, and managed to sell only 1,000-2,000t of structural grade HRC at these levels. A source informs Kallanish the mill has withdrawn its offers from the market and currently no Indian mills are active in the region.

“Chinese offers went up this week, hence Indian mills also wanted to raise their offers ... I think because of this, they withdrew from the market,” opines a trading source.

In the Indian domestic market, offers for E250 grade HRC are noted at INR 60,750-61,500/t ($733) ex-Mumbai versus imported HRC offers at INR 59,000/t ex-Mumbai. Meanwhile, offers for E350 and GP coils are being heard at INR 63,000-63,500/t and INR 72,500-73,000/t ex-Mumbai, respectively.

"Mills, after concluding small-tonnage deals in Europe, are mulling raising sentiment in the domestic market, but there is resistance from the buyer’s side; retailers are thus struggling to sell material,” informs a domestic market source.

Sayed Aameer India

voda 20 maart 2023 07:09

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PLI Scheme for 25 Million Metric Tons of Specialty Steel Takes Off

On March 17, 2023, India's Ministry of Steel held an event at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi where senior officials from the Steel Ministry, Indian Steel Association, and its members, including JSW Steel, Tata Steel, SAIL, AMNS India, and JSPL, were present. During the event, the Ministry of Steel signed 57 MoUs with 27 companies for specialty steel under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. The Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation, Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with Minister of State for Steel, Mr. Faggan Singh Kulaste, presented the MoUs to the representatives of the companies. The PLI scheme is expected to generate an investment of approximately ?30,000 Crores and an additional capacity creation of about 25 million metric tons of specialty steel in the next five years, as stated by Mr. Scindia.

Mr. Dilip Oommen, President of the Indian Steel Association, expressed his support for the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel, stating that it will not only make India self-sufficient in niche steel products but also contribute to making "Local for Global" a reality. He also emphasized the commitment of both the Ministry of Steel and the steel industry to complement each other and contribute to the growth of the steel industry. Mr. Oommen noted that the steel industry has made around 36% of investment commitments within the manufacturing sector in recent years and that India is key to the world's China-plus economy approach.

Mr. Alok Sahay, Secretary-General of the Indian Steel Association, emphasized the significance of the PLI Scheme for Specialty Steel in attracting large investments for capacity building and making India self-sufficient in almost the entire range of steel products. He noted that a delay in capacity augmentation of specialty steel would lead to import dependence in the future, and that quick trade remedial action and a shift from the decade-old Lesser Duty Rule would be key to de-risking investments and protecting India's Atmanirbhar Bharat dream for both segments critical to the 5 trillion economy.

MoUs have been signed for five broad categories of steel. These include HR & CR, Electrical Steel, Tinplates, Coated Steels, Rails, and Alloy Steels.

Under HR & CR, the following agreements have been signed:
• HR Coil, Sheets and Plates API GR 52<=X<=70 by JSW Vijayanagar Metallics Limited, Jindal Steel Odisha Limited, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited.
• High Tensile Sheets, Coil, Plates, YS>=450 by JSW Vijayanagar Metallics Limited, Jindal Steel Odisha Limited, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited.
• Auto GR Steel AHSS (CRCA) by Jindal Steel Odisha Limited and Tata Steel Limited.

In Electrical Steel, CRGO will be supplied by JSW Steel Limited, and CRNO by JSW Steel Limited and Tata Steel Limited.

For Tinplates, The Tinplate Company of India Limited, JSW Steel Coated Products Limited, Jindal Steel Odisha Limited, and Bhushan Power & Steel Limited have signed the MoUs.

In Coated Steels, the following agreements have been signed:
• Coated/Plated products of metallic/non-metallic alloys by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited, Tata Steel Limited, Jindal Steel Odisha Limited, Mahalakshmi Profiles Private Limited, Colorshine India Private Limited, and Gallantt Metalliks Limited.
• AL-ZN Coated (Galvalume) by Colorshine India Private Limited, Jindal Steel Odisha Limited, and Gallantt Metalliks Limited.
• Galvanneal/GL-Auto-GR by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited and Jindal Steel Odisha Limited.
• Color Coated by JSW Steel Coated Products Limited, Shyam Metalics Flat Product Private Limited, and Jindal Steel Odisha Limited.
• C-Class Zinc Coated Wire by Bansal Wire Industries Limited.
• Zinc-Aluminium Coated Wire by Bedmutha Industries Ltd.

Under Rails, the following agreements have been signed:
• Asymmetric Rails by Steel Authority of India Limited and Patil Rail Infrastructure Private Limited.
• Head Hardened Rails by Steel Authority of India Limited.

Lastly, for Alloy Steels, the following MoUs have been signed:
• Alloy Steel: Tool & Die Steel by Kirloskar Ferrous Industries Limited, Star Wire (India) Limited, Aamorinox Limited, Saarloha Advanced Materials Private Limited, and Sunflag Iron & Steel Company Limited.
• Alloy Steel: Valve Steel by Kirloskar Ferrous Industries Limited, Star Wire (India) Limited, Aamorinox Limited, Saarloha Advanced Materials Private Limited, and Sunflag Iron & Steel Company Limited.
• Alloy Steel: Bearing Steel by Kirloskar Ferrous Industries Limited, Bhushan Power & Steel Limited, Tata Steel Long Products Limited, Shreeyam Power & Steel Industries Limited, Sunflag Iron & Steel Company Limited, and Kalyani Steels Ltd.
• Automotive Powertrain Steel by Tata Steel Long Products Limited, Bhushan Power & Steel Limited, Arora Iron & Steel Rolling Mills Private Limited, Vardhman Special Steels Limited, Kalyani Steels Ltd, and Sunflag Iron & Steel Company Limited.
• Precipitation Hardened Stainless Steel by Sunflag Iron & Steel Company Limited.
• Tyre Bead Wire by Rajratan Global Wire Limited, Shreeyam Power & Steel Industries Limited, Bansal Aradhya Steel Pvt Ltd, Lloyds Metals & Energy

The Union Cabinet approved the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Specialty Steel in July 2021, providing incentives worth ?6,322 crore ($850 million) over a five-year period to companies that manufacture high grade specialty steel. This type of steel is utilized in key strategic industries, such as defense, aerospace, and nuclear power. The PLI scheme will reward companies that invest in the production of specialty steel with financial incentives based on their incremental sales. The value of these incentives will range from 4% to 12% of the incremental sales, and will depend on the grade of steel and the level of investment made by the company.

voda 20 maart 2023 07:09

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Three Pathways to Green Steel in China

On February 6, 2023, the China Meteorological Association published the 2022 China Climate Bulletin, which analyzed China's climate conditions and tracked significant meteorological disasters and major climate events from the previous year. The report noted that China had recorded its second-highest annual mean temperature in history in 2022, with spring, summer, and autumn temperatures being the highest since record-keeping began. During the press conference, Mr. Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of China's National Climate Center, emphasized the importance of staying alert to low probability, high impact climate events, such as the heat wave that hit China in 2013, driving temperatures above 40 degree Celsius in at least 40 cities and counties.

Mitigating global climate change cannot be achieved without China, the world's largest carbon emitter, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. The steel sector, which is one of China's key GDP drivers, plays a crucial role in the country's decarbonization efforts. In terms of its carbon footprint, the steel industry is only second to power generation, accounting for around 17% of China's annual emissions. It is worth noting that China Baowu Steel, the world's largest steel producer and a state-owned conglomerate, emitted more CO2 in 2020 than Pakistan.

There are three main options available for Chinese steel producers to improve their environmental practices. The first option is to replace coal-based blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces. These furnaces use renewable electricity and high-quality steel scrap, making them more eco-friendly. However, this approach poses a challenge in terms of the availability of high quality scrap steel, which is only available in certain regions. As a result, the widespread adoption of electric arc furnaces may increase the cost of steel production.

The second option is to install carbon capture equipment at existing steel plants. While this approach allows steelmakers to continue operating their plants without significantly contributing to climate change, it comes with additional costs. Currently, carbon capture projects at steel plants are still in the pilot stage, and more investment is required to make this technology a viable large-scale solution.

The third and final pathway to greener steel production involves the adoption of green hydrogen-based technologies. Although the green hydrogen industry is still in its early stages, it holds great potential for reducing the steel industry's CO2 emissions. This approach relies on a reliable renewable power supply to produce green hydrogen, which may require a decline in energy prices for it to be produced on an industrial scale.

The adoption of greener technologies is crucial to reducing the carbon footprint of China's steel industry, which accounts for approximately 17% of the country's annual emissions. As the world's largest carbon emitter, China's commitment to green steel production is critical in the fight against climate change. China's leading steelmakers have been striving to achieve this goal, with half of the country's six major producers already investing in hydrogen technologies to decarbonize production. For example, on 15 February 2022, Baowu initiated the construction of a new green hydrogen fueled electric arc furnace in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 and will be Baowu's first zero carbon electric arc furnace.

In November 2021, China Baowu launched the Global Low-Carbon Metallurgical Innovation Alliance and a fund that will invest $5.5 million annually in low-carbon metallurgy research, including hydrogen-related projects. The alliance is a formidable force, with 60 members from 15 countries, including steel companies such as ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel, thyssenkrupp, JSW Steel, Angang Steel, HBIS and Shagang Group, as well as mining companies like BHP, Rio Tinto, Vale, Fortescue Metals Group.

HBIS Group, China's second-largest steelmaker, commenced construction on the world's first hydrogen metallurgy demonstration project in Zhangjiakou, the hydrogen pilot city in Hebei Province in May 2021. This project is another significant step towards producing greener steel in China.

Moreover, in 2022, Ansteel Group, another prominent Chinese steelmaker, made a technological breakthrough in using a green hydrogen-based process to produce steel. This breakthrough has the potential to provide the company with valuable intellectual property for years to come, as well as help in reducing the steel industry's carbon footprint.

While China's steel industry has made progress towards adopting green technologies, there are still challenges that lie ahead. One of the main obstacles is the immaturity and high cost of hydrogen-based technologies and steel production. Scaling up these technologies to a point where they become cost-effective will require significant investment from both the supply and demand sides of the business. Despite this, experts estimate that China could save nearly $2 trillion between 2020 and 2060 by turning to hydrogen as a means to achieve industrial carbon neutrality. Furthermore, renewable electricity costs are declining, which will lower the costs of green hydrogen production and enhance its potential for scaling up. Nevertheless, government support, both at the central and local levels, will be crucial in sustaining this trend.

Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping's ambitious goals for China to hit peak carbon emissions in 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 have the potential to create two spillover effects that can support the transition towards green hydrogen experimentation in the country. Firstly, these benchmarks can generate political pressure that sustains fiscal support for future green hydrogen initiatives. Secondly, they can give Chinese steelmakers the confidence to invest in promising yet uncertain applications of hydrogen energy technology, despite the high risks involved.

Given their significant size, the path that Chinese steelmakers take to achieve green steel production will have far-reaching implications for how China manages the transition towards a low-carbon economy. The pace at which China's steel industry works towards carbon neutrality over the next few decades will be crucial in the global fight against climate change. To that end, continued government support at both the central and local levels will be key to ensuring the success of green hydrogen experimentation in the country.

voda 20 maart 2023 07:10

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WTO to Speed up Steel Sector Decarbonization

Industry leaders highlighted the need for the World Trade Organization to play a crucial role in achieving carbon neutral steel production by promoting coherence and transparency in decarbonization standards. During the first-ever WTO forum on decarbonization standards on 9 March 2023, executives emphasized the importance of lowering costs and reducing potential trade fragmentation in the steel industry. The Trade Forum for Decarbonization Standards: Promoting transparency and coherence in the iron and steel sector brought together officials and business leaders from many of the world's largest steel-producing economies for a dialogue on coherent and transparent standards in accelerating the global scale up of low carbon steelmaking. As concerns grow over the compatibility and potential trade fragmentation caused by the proliferation of different decarbonization standards, this gathering, which marked the first time steel industry representatives have convened at the WTO on climate issues, could not have come at a more opportune moment.

During the Leaders' Conversation at the Forum, WTO Director General Ms. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala emphasized the importance of decarbonization standards in the iron and steel sector, which alone contributes to approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. She highlighted that 70% of global primary steel production relies on carbon-intensive blast oxygen furnaces, making it critical for the industry to become carbon neutral through the adoption of decarbonization standards. However, the existence of at least 20 different standards, each with different methodologies, has resulted in policy fragmentation and incompatibility, adding costs and uncertainty for producers. Ms. Ngozi Okonjo noted that such fragmentation can hinder decarbonization investment and is counterproductive, particularly for a sector with long-lived assets like steel. She expressed her satisfaction in seeing so many key stakeholders gathered to explore how cooperation at the WTO can facilitate the decarbonization journey of this crucial industry. The DG also highlighted the WTO's track record in easing trade frictions arising from fragmented standards, citing the work of the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, which has contributed to the development of new international standards.

Princess Abze Djigma, Chair of the Princess Abze Djigma Foundation and former special envoy to Burkina Faso's President on Sustainable Development Goals and climate change, praised the WTO's efforts to engage with industry on the crucial issue of decarbonization standards in the steel sector. She expressed her satisfaction that the WTO recognizes the critical role the private sector has to play in this regard, stating that ultimately, it is the private sector that will be responsible for delivering the necessary changes.

Mr. Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal, expressed optimism about the industry's ability to decarbonize and the importance of equivalence and fairness in decarbonization efforts. According to him, achieving equivalence and fairness in decarbonization efforts across markets is crucial to ensure that the industry can continue to trade while transitioning to carbon neutrality. Mr. Aditya Mittal emphasized the importance of recognizing the historical context of different countries and their respective cost bases for decarbonization. He believes that creating a fair system will allow everyone to put their best effort, ideas, and resources into the transition to a low carbon economy.

Dr. Edwin Basson, Director General of the World Steel Association, emphasized the importance of synchronizing regulations in the steel industry, as one out of every three tons of steel produced is traded across borders. He acknowledged the need for a regulatory environment that is well-aligned between countries to maintain successful operation of the industry in an open trading environment. In this regard, Dr. Basson highlighted the crucial role that the World Trade Organization can play in keeping tradable markets equitable and on a level playing field. He expressed his delight that this discussion is taking place at the WTO, emphasizing the significance of the organization in this regard.

After the Leaders Conversation, two action panels were held to discuss progress in setting emission thresholds for the steel industry, challenges faced by developing countries, and opportunities for promoting global coherence and transparency in decarbonization standards. The panels aimed to identify issues and potential solutions related to the topic. In the closing session, the focus was on the role the WTO can play in addressing the issues raised in the previous panel sessions.

The Forum represents an important step in building on the analytical work of the WTO Secretariat on carbon standards, including the recent report on the steel industry as part of the Trade and Climate Change information brief series, as well as the 2022 World Trade Report on climate change and international trade. By bringing together industry executives, officials, and business leaders from major steel-producing economies, the Forum aims to promote transparency and coherence in decarbonization standards to facilitate the global scale-up of low-carbon steelmaking.

voda 20 maart 2023 07:10

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Disaster Averted by Locating Missing Radioactive Tube at Steel Plant in Thailand

Local authorities on Sunday withheld the name of the steel melting plant and Prachin Buri governor Narong Nakhonchinda planned to hold a press conference on the matter at the Prachin Buri government complex at 10am on Monday.

On 19 March 2023, local authorities closed down a steel plant in Hat Nang Kaeo, located in the southeastern part of Prachinburi Province in eastern Thailand, says Bangkok Post. This was after officials from the Office of Atoms for Peace conducted an inspection of local steel melting plants with detectors and found a missing tube of radioactive isotope Caesium-137 in the premises. The discovery averted a potential disaster of producing radioactive contaminated rebars, which could have endangered the lives of people occupying habitats constructed with them.

The radioactive isotope tube, which was reported missing on 10 March 2023, was 13cm in diameter, 20cm in length, and weighed 25kg. It was discovered missing from a National Power Plant 5A Company facility located in the 304 Industrial Park in Tambon Tha Turn of Si Maha Phot district.

Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope of caesium that is formed as one of the more common fission products by the nuclear fission of uranium 235 and other fissionable isotopes in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Caesium-137 has several practical uses, including calibrating radiation-detection equipment, in radiation therapy, and in various industry applications. However, exposure to large amounts of Caesium-137 can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, and even death, and increase the risk of cancer due to exposure to high-energy gamma radiation.

In the past, there have been several incidents of health disasters caused by radioactive contaminated steel. In 1983, in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, a cobalt-60 contamination incident occurred, leading to severe contamination of several tonnes of steel. The contaminated steel was then used to manufacture kitchen and restaurant table legs and rebar, some of which was shipped to the US and Canada. In 1982, Cobalt-60 became recycled into steel rebar and used in the construction of buildings in northern Taiwan, exposing around 7,000 people to long-term low-level irradiation. In 2010, a man in New Delhi was hospitalized after handling radioactive scrap metal containing 60Co, which was found in the city's industrial district of Mayapuri.

voda 20 maart 2023 07:11

0

JSP gets BIS License to Manufacture Fire Resistant Steel

Jindal Steel & Power has recently received a significant certification in the Indian steel industry, as it has become the first company in the country to be granted a BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) license to manufacture Fire Resistant Steel Structures. This pioneering development has been made possible at its Rail Mill & Special Profile Mill in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. The Hot Rolled Structural Steel, which has been manufactured as per IS 15103, can endure high-temperature or fire-prone areas and has the ability to withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees Celsius for a maximum of three hours.

Designing fire-resistant steel structures has always been a challenge, but with the availability of this revolutionary Fire Resistant Steel, structures can be designed more efficiently, and with greater safety measures in place. The new BIS 15103 grade steel will be used in the manufacturing of steel structures for various infrastructure projects including industrial structures, refineries, bridges, metro projects, steel and power plants, hospitals, commercial buildings, and residential buildings.

Mr. Bimlendra Jha, Managing Director of Jindal Steel & Power, has expressed his elation in a statement and stated that this license to produce Fire Resistant Steel will be a game-changer in strengthening India's infrastructure and its safety standards. The introduction of Fire Resistant Steel will provide much-needed assurance to the end-users regarding fire safety, thus building a safer AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

voda 20 maart 2023 07:11

0

Steel Ministry to Help RINL Overcome Coal Shortage

It seems that the Indian Government is taking proactive measures to address the shortage of coking coal and iron ore at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam's Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Union Civil Aviation and Steel Minister Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia has stated that talks are ongoing with the Union Coal Ministry to ensure uninterrupted supply of coking coal to steel plants. Additionally, the government of Odisha has been requested to allocate one iron ore block exclusively for RINL VSP.

It is worth noting that RINL is facing challenges in ramping up its production due to the shortage of iron ore and coking coal. The steel plant was modernized to produce 7.3 million metric tons of steel, but the capacity utilization has not increased. RINL CMD Mr. Atul Bhatt has sought the intervention of Steel Secretary Mr. Narendranath Sinha last month to address these challenges.

voda 20 maart 2023 07:11

0

Supreme Court Clears Almascaps Bid for Gontermann Peipers (India)

The Supreme Court has given its approval to the bid of Cayman Island-based Howen International Fund SPC for Kolkata-based steel rolls manufacturer Gontermann Peipers (India) Ltd, for a bid amount of ?127.75 crore. Howen International Fund SPC outbid other bidders, including JSW Steel, by a significant margin, as reported by The Telegraph. Currently, the company has paid ?93.4 crore of the bid amount, and the SC has granted time till April 30 for the balance payment to be made. Legal sources suggest that the successful bidder will submit an application to the National Company Law Tribunal, Calcutta bench, outlining their future plans for the company after the full payment has been made.

Gontermann Peipers (India) Ltd was formerly owned by Mr. Pramod Mittal and Mr. Vinod Mittal, younger siblings of steel magnate Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal. The assets of GPIL were auctioned under the liquidation process as a going concern basis.

Managed by Dubai-based financial service company Almas Capital Limited, also known as Almascaps, Howen International Fund SPC invests in companies through debt or equity and operates within the Segregated Portfolio Company structure. According to DNB, Mr. Amardeep Sharma is the Managing Director of Almascaps, which has previously invested in EMC Limited Kolkata & Jupitice Chandigarh, according to YNOS

Gontermann-Peipers (India) Limited is one of the largest producers of steel rolls in India and was established with technical collaboration from Gontermann-Peipers of Germany. Since then, the technology has been absorbed, and the company is continuously supplying rolls with modifications as required by various customers. GPIL's manufacturing unit is located on Diamond Harbour Road near Joka in Kolkata.

voda 20 maart 2023 07:12

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Tata Steel UK Warns of Impending Closure of One BF

Tata Steel UK, one of the leading steel manufacturers in the UK, has recently issued a warning regarding the potential closure of one of its two blast furnaces at its Port Talbot plant in South Wales. The decision has been prompted by the absence of long-term government support for the industry, which must be in place by July, for the company to continue with its planned multi-billion investment in green steelmaking facilities at the same site. According to The Mail, Tata Steel UK is apprehensive about the current level of government assistance and has expressed its disappointment with the recent Budget for failing to indicate any commitment to the steel industry.

The company's spokesman revealed to The Mail on Sunday, "While we recognize a positive direction of travel through some of the energy measures recently announced, we remain concerned that the measures will not be sufficient to allow our industry to progress to green steelmaking at the pace and scale required. The Spring Budget was an opportunity for the Government to further demonstrate its commitment to supporting a decarbonized and competitive UK steel industry."

Tata Steel UK is now faced with a critical decision in the next two to three years regarding the blast furnace at Port Talbot. It must decide whether to extend its lifespan, replace it with a new electric steelmaking facility or shut it down permanently without any new technology. The latter option could potentially result in the loss of thousands of jobs and deal another devastating blow to the already dwindling UK steel industry.

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