MECON Limited along with SAIL , under the aegis of Ministry of Steel, Government of India organized a two days International Conference on Steel (ICONS-2024): Focus on Capital Goods on 30th & 31st May 2024 at MTI (Management Training Institute) Conference Hall, Shyamali Colony, Doranda.
The First day of ICONS-2024 started on Thursday with welcoming dignitaries. At the outset, Sanjay Kumar Verma, CMD-MECON welcomed all the dignitaries and set the context of the conference. The Conference was inaugurated by lighting up of the lamp by NN Sinha- Secretary-Ministry of Steel, GoI, Sukriti Likhi- Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, MoS, Abhijit Narendra-Joint Secretory MoS, Dr. Sanjay Roy-Jt. Secretory, MoS, Amitava Mukherjee, CMD-NMDC, Ajit Kumar Saxena, CMD-MOIL, Sanjay Kumar Verma, CMD & Director commercial Addl charge-MECON and Amarendu Prakash- Chairman-SAIL.
Some dignitaries also joined virtually through video conference. CMD-SAIL, CMD-MOIL and CMD-NMDC addressed the gathering. Key note address was delivered by Abhijit Narendran and special address was given by Nagendra Nath Sinha.
In the special address, Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary-MoS, GoI said that today meticulous project planning and timely execution has become one of the biggest challenges for the steel projects being set up in India. We need to find out innovative ways of timely executing our projects for keeping steel projects healthy and for its long-term sustainability. He also emphasized on new ways of working, new ideas, new talents need to be inducted to revive Heavy industry sector.
Abhijit Narendra, Joint Secretary-MoS, GoI said that although we are second in steel production, but we have limitations in making machineries for steel industry. He stressed on to create an Ecosystem containing all the stakeholders.
CMD- NMDC mentioned that India is the 5th largest Economy, we are the most young and vibrant nation. India is basically service sector-based nation. Manufacturing sector needs to grow substantially and areas should be identified categorically. Constant interaction is needed between technology provider and technology buyer to educate each other on the possibilities and requirement of the future.
CMD- MOIL said that capital goods sector is very strategic part of economy. Capital goods sector is considered as mother of manufacturing sector. He emphasized that integrated steel plant shall have big engineering workshop.
CMD-SAIL who co-hosted the conference welcomed all and said that considering the volatility in the world, we need to focus on supply chain security since securing supply- chain is becoming more and more difficult. He emphasized on development of a comprehensive and sustainable eco system for the production of indigenized capital goods.
CMD-MECON spoke about National Steel Policy (NSP)-2017 and further elaborated that as per policy target to reach the 300 Mt steel capacity - about 138-139 Mt of new capacity is estimated to be added in next 7-8 years involving a huge investment of US$ 120-130 billion from the Indian Steel industry. There will be a likely import of about 15-20% of steel plant equipment from foreign countries. Given the current situation, where the import content and value rises as we move up the value chain, about $ 18-20 billion worth of imported equipment is likely to be sourced from abroad besides spares worth of about US$ 400-500 million.
In order to strengthen domestic manufacturing, it is vital to explore strategies like technology transfer or international technology provider to establish manufacturing units in India.
The First Day of the conference also covered four technical sessions: Trends and Challenges in Coke Making Technology, Trends and Challenges in Agglomeration Technology, Trends and Challenges in Iron Making Technology, Trends and Challenges in Steel Making Technology.
Senior representatives from manufacturing companies, Iron & Steel producers, equipment suppliers, engineering & consultancy companies were present during the day long conference. Participation of academia signified the collaborative willingness to take up the challenges.
