Jindal Steel, one of India’s foremost integrated steel producers, has pioneered the use of swadeshi coal through advanced coal gasification, strengthening India’s energy security while enabling a transition towards low-carbon steel production.
Global first in gasification-based DRI
The company achieved a global milestone by establishing India’s first coal gasification-based Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant, utilising syngas for iron-making. This innovation marks a significant shift from conventional fuel sources and positions the company at the forefront of clean steel technologies.
Expanding syngas applications across operations
In response to shortages of natural gas, LPG, and propane, Jindal Steel has successfully deployed syngas in galvanising and colour coating line furnaces, marking the first such application in the steel industry. This has enabled the company to effectively mitigate fuel supply constraints during a period of heightened energy volatility.
Reducing import dependence and emissions
Further strengthening its sustainability push, the company has pioneered syngas injection into blast furnaces, reducing reliance on imported coking coal while lowering carbon emissions per tonne of steel. This integrated deployment across the steelmaking value chain sets a new benchmark for operational efficiency and environmental performance.
Policy support to drive adoption
The Government of India’s forward-looking initiatives, including the National Coal Gasification Mission, are expected to accelerate the adoption of such technologies, supporting the country’s broader push towards energy self-reliance and cleaner industrial growth.
Eyes low-carbon growth
P K Biju Nair, Executive Director, Angul, Jindal Steel, said synthesis gas derived from domestic coal has the potential to replace imported fuels and feedstocks such as methanol, ammonia, ammonium nitrate, and LNG. He emphasised that leveraging India’s vast coal reserves can help future-proof low-carbon growth, reduce foreign exchange outflows, and enhance export competitiveness, particularly in the context of evolving global carbon regulations.