ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) – a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel, conducted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the commencement of a Rs 60,000-crore investment programme to increase the production capacity of its Hazira plant in Gujarat, from 9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to c.15 MTPA. The ceremony was graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, Union Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister & Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan Kunihiko Kawazu, Member of Parliament C.R. Patil, Lakshmi Mittal, Executive Chairman, ArcelorMittal; Aditya Mittal, CEO, ArcelorMittal and Chairman, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India; Eiji Hashimoto, Representative Director and President, Nippon Steel Corporation; Takahiro Mori, Representative Director and Executive Vice President, Nippon Steel Corporation, and Member, Board of Directors, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India and Dilip Oommen, CEO, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India. Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony as the Chief Guest, PM Narendra Modi, said: “My best wishes to AM/NS India for the Hazira expansion, which will open doors for new possibilities in the future with the investment of Rs 60,000 crore. This project will create job opportunities in Gujarat and across India, apart from inspiring the manufacturing of high-grade steel while playing a critical role in reducing import dependence in critical and strategic applications. The company’s latest technology for this project will prove to be a milestone and provide a fillip to the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. I also congratulate AM/NS India for giving utmost importance to green technology to contribute to the circular economy.”
This expansion at Hazira comes nearly three years after AM/NS India was established and will involve upstream and downstream steelmaking expansion, creating more than 60,000 jobs and strengthening nearby communities with initiatives that deepen sustainability.
Since 2019, AM/NS India has made strong progress on performance and debottlenecking at Hazira plant by applying the global best practices of its parent companies and investing in technology and R&D. The company is now a self-sustaining, free cash flow generating business, and well-positioned in a fast-growing market to deliver long-term value to its employees, communities, and the Indian steel industry.
As part of its expansion programme, AM/NS India will continue to contribute to the strengthening of India’s steelmaking expertise and capabilities, including the development of downstream facilities to produce value-added steels to reduce India’s reliance on steel imports for use in sectors such as defence, automotive and infrastructure.
CM Bhupendra Patel said that the ambitious project would create jobs and economic activities in the state of Gujarat. Union Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia shared that for India to achieve 300 million tonnes of steelmaking capacity, significant capital, advanced manufacturing technologies and deeper experience in the execution of large-scale projects is required and he is certain that this collaboration will help bring all three into the fold.
Beyond volume growth and improving the quality and diversity of its steels, AM/NS India is also focused on efforts to lead the decarbonisation of the steel industry through initiatives such as integrating renewables into its energy supply chain and exploring the use of a range of lower-carbon technologies over the next decade.
Lakshmi Mittal, Executive Chairman, ArcelorMittal, said: “We are proud to have reached this important juncture to deepen our contribution to the growth of India’s steelmaking industry and the country’s vision not only for Atmanirbhar Bharat but also a Bharat that manufactures for the world.”