Tata Steel Joins LeadIT to Drive Net-Zero Emissions in Heavy Industry.
LeadIT is pleased to announce that Tata Steel, one of the world’s top steel producers, has joined the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT). This new partnership underscores Tata Steel’s commitment to collaborate with countries and companies striving for net-zero emissions in heavy industry. Tata Steel has set an ambitious goal to become net-neutral in carbon emissions by 2045.
“Tata Steel’s membership in LeadIT presents a significant opportunity for us to amplify our endeavors towards carbon neutrality. We are wholeheartedly committed to taking decisive actions in this transformative journey, evident in our adoption and implementation of cutting-edge carbon negative technologies such as: Coal Bed Methane (CBM) injection, hydrogen injection in blast furnace and commissioning of carbon capture plant. Our dedication extends beyond internal measures, as we strive to curtail emissions from materials and offer climate-smart solutions that empower our customers to achieve their own environmental targets. By engaging with LeadIT, we gain access to a vital platform for sharing best practices, influencing policy, and enhancing our own climate initiatives. This collaboration not only strengthens our business but also reinforces our role as a catalyst for positive change on a global scale, contributing to the collective pursuit of sustainability.” say Dr. Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology and R&D, Tata Steel
Per Andersson, Head of the LeadIT Secretariat, expressed the group’s enthusiasm at welcoming Tata Steel into the group. “Tata´s ambitious goal of attaining carbon neutrality by 2045 paves the way for low-carbon steel production. We at LeadIT, and the Secretariat, warmly welcome Tata to our group. Our joint efforts will significantly contribute to achieving net-zero targets for the global steel sector.”
LeadIT brings together countries and companies committed to transitioning heavy industries toward net-zero emissions. The group is proud to add Tata Steel to the list of leaders in the transition and hopes that this will contribute to accelerating the journey toward a net-zero future.
Read our interview with Dr. Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology and R&D at Tata Steel below, giving his take on what the LeadIT membership means for Tata Steel and what challenges and opportunities they see for the steel sector.
Why did Tata want to join LeadIT?
Joining LeadIT offers Tata Steel a remarkable opportunity to collaborate and exchange knowledge with other industry leaders, organisations, and stakeholders involved in transitioning industries. This collaboration allows Tata Steel to gain valuable insights, best practices, and innovative ideas specifically related to sustainable practices and green technologies in the steel sector. LeadIT serves as a valuable platform for cross-sectoral learning, allowing Tata Steel to learn from other companies undergoing similar industry transitions and apply those insights to their own operations, expediting their sustainability journey and keeping them at the forefront of industry advancements. Additionally, by actively participating in LeadIT, Tata Steel can have a collective industry voice and actively contribute to shaping global agendas on sustainability, climate change mitigation, and low-carbon pathways. This involvement enables Tata Steel to advocate for a supportive policy environment that encourages the widespread adoption of green technologies in steel manufacturing. Furthermore, joining LeadIT provides Tata Steel with access to essential resources, funding opportunities, and technical assistance programmes, which accelerate their transition to sustainable practices.
What contribution can Tata make to LeadIT?
Tata Steel would communicate the challenges and opportunities of Indian steel market, which is poised for significant growth in the next three decades. Our experience in both European and Indian steel sector would help developing future policies which would be applicable universally to developed and developing countries. With our strong commitment to sustainability and advocacy efforts, we can actively shape policy discussions within LeadIT. By sharing our experience in Indian and European steel industry Tata Steel can provide valuable knowledge and best practices which would help taking right path for sustainable growth of the steel industry. Our active engagement with stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, and local communities allows us to showcase our sustainability initiatives and drive industry-wide improvements. Additionally, we can contribute to the cross-sectoral learning within LeadIT by sharing our experiences and lessons learned from our sustainability journey with relevant industry sector in India like power and chemical.
What are the opportunities that you see in green tech?
Tata Steel acknowledges a wide range of opportunities in green technology to drive the industry’s sustainability efforts. One significant opportunity lies in Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies, as finding cost-effective solutions for capturing and utilizing CO2 at scale is crucial. The energy sector presents promising advancements, including reducing reliance on non-renewable fuels, implementing waste heat recovery, etc. Introducing biofuel-powered ships and electric vehicles for transportation purposes would contribute to decarbonising the supply chain. Implementing gas/hydrogen-based Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plants and transitioning from conventional blast furnace-based steelmaking to electric arc furnace (EAF) technologies offer substantial reductions in carbon emissions.
Embracing circular economy practices, like urban mining, allows for the recycling and recovery of raw materials from discarded goods, demonstrating steel’s unlimited recycling potential and its role in minimising the environmental impact of steel operations. Recycled steel not only reduces carbon emissions but also conserves resources and lowers energy consumption.
What types of challenges does your company face in implementing industry transition across your global operations?
Tata Steel has set an ambitious long-term objective of attaining carbon neutrality by 2045. However, this objective is accompanied by substantial challenges, particularly considering the projected growth and expansion opportunities in India. To confront this formidable task, Tata Steel has embraced a two-pronged approach to decarbonisation: Carbon Direct Avoidance (CDA) and CO2 Capture and Use (CCU). Yet, the implementation of industry transition across our global operations is not without its hurdles, which we actively address. These challenges encompass the intricate scale and complexity of our operations, the diverse regulatory frameworks and policies prevailing across different regions, the need for substantial investments in development and deployment green technologies on industrial scale. Also, there is a dearth of adequate industry incentives for promoting the adoption of green technologies. The workforce needs to be reskilled to align with the changing landscape, and there are certain challenges associated with engaging multiple stakeholders to drive collective action.
Additionally, finding suitable space for establishing plants and implementing green technologies poses logistical challenges that we are actively working to overcome. Despite these hurdles, we remain resolute in our commitment to effecting meaningful change and securing a sustainable future for Tata Steel and the entire steel industry.
Tata Steel's membership in LeadIT presents a significant opportunity for us to amplify our endeavors towards carbon neutrality. This collaboration not only strengthens our business but also reinforces our role as a catalyst for positive change on a global scale, contributing to the collective pursuit of sustainability
Dr. Debashish Bhattacharjee
Vice President, Technology and R&D at Tata Steel