NEW DELHI (Commodity Online): Indian steel industries have been asked to focus on adopting new technologies to help utilize low grade iron ore and coking coal in the country, according to Beni Prasad Verma, India Minister of Steel. He was attending a seminar titled, ‘Indian Steel Sector: Adopting Human Resource practices, R&D initiatives and Green Technology’ organised by ASSOCHAM in Lucknow.
The Indian steel industry faces shortage of iron ore and coal, which is the important raw material for manufacturing steel, and also most of the iron ore and coal found in the country is of low grade. Presently, the requirement of the country is met through import of the raw materials.
Beni Prasad Verma has advised the industry to focus more on new technologies to utilize the low grade iron ore and coking coal in the country.
Meanwhile, to add momentum to the vision of increasing the entry of steel in the rural market, the agreement for setting up of Joint Venture Steel Processing Units in Barabanki and Lakhimpur was signed in the pressence of the steel minister.
“Uttar Pradesh is a land of infinite possibilities and it will develop once it starts producing raw material for big industries. My vision aims at making the state a centre for production of primary steel and a reservoir of trained workforce" said Verma.
While emphasizing on the theme of the seminar, the Minister added that undermining of human resource, under-developed research and development potential and use of less efficient technologies are some of the reasons for the stunted development of the industry.
More ITI's would soon come up at Gonda, Barabanki & Jagdishpur and will impart training to 100-150 local youth each year in trades like fitter, welder, electrician and computer hardware.
