Industry must adopt emerging tech to boost productivity, remain competitive: Steel Minister
Union Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy, on Wednesday, urged the steel industry to adopt emerging technologies to remain globally competitive and boost productivity.
The minister made the remarks at Chintan Shivir 2026 on Digitalisation in the Steel Sector, organised by the Ministry of Steel in the national capital. The future of the steel sector will not be shaped by production capacity alone but also by intelligent ecosystems, the minister said, addressing the gathering, which included representatives from the public and private sectors.
He said technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Industrial IoT, Digital Twins, Robotics and Advanced Data Analytics are redefining steel manufacturing globally. Their adoption significantly improves productivity. Kumaraswamy said the government is aiming 300 million tonne (MT) steel capacity target by 2030, and 400 MT by 2035. This expansion is being driven by strong domestic fundamentals. These include large-scale infrastructure development, manufacturing growth under Make in India, renewable energy expansion, and rapid urbanisation.
The growth outlook remains highly promising. But the sector must also proactively address key challenges related to raw material security, operational efficiency, decarbonisation, modernisation and export competitiveness.
“In this context, digitalisation is no longer a choice. It is the foundational cornerstone of long-term survival,” he noted. The minister further said digitalisation and automation can also enable predictive maintenance, helping identify potential equipment breakdowns before they occur. This not only minimises unplanned downtime but also reduces human errors and the risk of workplace accidents, making steel plants safer for every worker.
