Tata Steel Limited has inaugurated a scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) facility at Hi-Tech Valley in Ludhiana, with a production capacity of 0.75 million tonnes per annum. The plant, built with an investment of approximately INR 32 billion, is designed to produce construction-grade steel while reducing carbon emissions intensity.
The facility is designed to achieve carbon dioxide emissions of less than 0.3 tonne per tonne of steel. The development is part of the company’s objective to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
The investment includes a Danieli MIDA Hybrid QLP minimill for the production of long products, aligned with Tata Steel’s plans to expand steel recycling and low-carbon steelmaking. The minimill, located in Ludhiana, is designed with an annual capacity of 750,000 tonnes of rebar, primarily in 550 SD grade.
The plant will operate using 100 percent steel scrap as raw material and is expected to source around 40 percent of its scrap requirement from the company’s recycling facility in Rohtak, Haryana. It will also utilise nearly 50 percent renewable energy in its operations.
“The Ludhiana EAF marks a defining milestone in Tata Steel’s journey towards achieving Net Zero by 2045. It reflects how Tata Steel is rethinking capital investment for circular economy – by backing technologies that reduce resource intensity while remaining globally competitive,” said T V Narendran, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Steel.
The minimill incorporates Danieli’s Digimelter technology, including Q-One, Zerobucket and Q-Melt systems, along with an Octocaster feeding an ultra-compact rolling mill. The Q-One power feeder is designed to manage variable power loads, while the Zerobucket Digimelter processes preheated scrap through a continuous charging system.
The facility is equipped with a single-strand Octocaster designed for an hourly productivity of 112 tonnes, connected to the rolling mill for continuous casting and rolling. The rolling mill comprises 18 stands, including two six-pass finishing blocks, and is designed to produce rebar ranging from 8 mm to 40 mm in diameter.
The facility will produce construction-grade steel rebar under the company’s Tata Tiscon brand, aimed at the construction segment and intended to support its market presence in this segment.
Over the past three years, Tata Steel, through its foundation, has undertaken community initiatives in areas around the Ludhiana plant. These include employability training at Industrial Training Institutes, introduction of new livelihoods, installation of solar-powered streetlights, promotion of climate-resilient agricultural practices, and development of community-based waste management systems.
Tata Steel Limited is a steel producer with an annual crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum. The company reported a consolidated turnover of approximately USD 27.7 billion for the financial year ending 31 March 2024 and operates across multiple geographies.
