The Government of India has outlined several initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the industrial sector, particularly in steel and heavy industries, according to information presented in Parliament.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Heavy Industries, stated that the Ministry of Heavy Industries currently does not operate a dedicated scheme specifically focused on carbon emission reduction. However, the Ministry of Steel has introduced several policy measures aimed at decarbonizing the steel sector and supporting the country’s long-term climate goals.
Among the key initiatives, the Ministry of Steel has released a taxonomy for green steel, establishing standards to define and categorize low-emission steel production. The ministry has also published a strategic report titled Greening the Steel Sector in India: Roadmap and Action Plan, which outlines a long-term pathway for achieving sustainability in the steel sector and supporting India’s net-zero emissions target by 2070.
The government has also implemented the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019, which provides a coordinated framework involving multiple ministries to promote the recycling of ferrous scrap generated across industries. The policy is intended to improve resource efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of steel production.
In addition, the steel sector has begun exploring hydrogen-based technologies. Four pilot projects focusing on the use of hydrogen in steel manufacturing have been launched under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. These projects aim to test the feasibility of using hydrogen as a cleaner alternative in steel production processes.
Public sector enterprises under the Ministry of Heavy Industries have also undertaken internal initiatives to reduce emissions. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has developed and demonstrated an indigenous CO₂ capture solution, integrating a 1.4 tonnes per day carbon capture unit with a 0.25 tonnes per day coal-to-methanol demonstration plant using an amine-based absorption method.
BHEL has also played a key role in developing Advanced Ultra Supercritical (AUSC) technology, in collaboration with NTPC Limited and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. The AUSC technology improves the efficiency of coal-based power generation and can reduce carbon emissions by around 11 percent compared to conventional supercritical power plants.
In addition, BHEL has installed solar power plants totaling approximately 35 MW across its manufacturing facilities in different parts of the country to support cleaner energy use within its operations.
Meanwhile, Cement Corporation of India (CCI) has implemented several operational measures to lower emissions. These include the installation of a fly ash feeding system, upgrades to hot air ducts, and replacement of older motors with more energy-efficient equipment. The company has also installed solar power plants under the RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) model to support renewable energy adoption in its facilities.
These initiatives collectively reflect the government’s broader approach to reducing carbon emissions across heavy industries while supporting India’s long-term transition toward cleaner and more sustainable industrial practices.
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