India introduces certification of low-carbon rolled products

The system is voluntary, and the country aims to certify steel for the processing industry

India has introduced an official certification system for environmentally friendly steel produced in electric arc furnaces, Kallanish reports, citing industry sources.

This is a voluntary system managed by the National Institute of Steel Secondary Processing Technologies (NISST). The scheme focuses on emissions per tonne of rolled steel produced, rather than alloy, as is the case with most global standards.

In this way, India seeks to certify steel used in the manufacturing industry. The certification is expected to benefit rebar producers who use electric arc and induction furnaces and rely on scrap as raw material.

As with the corresponding taxonomy introduced in the country in December, products will be considered green if they emit less than 2.2 tons of carbon equivalent per ton of rolled steel produced. A star-based rating system is used, with products with emissions of less than 1.6 tons of CO2 per tonne being considered five-star.

Since the scheme was launched in early April this year, only 20 companies have registered for certification, but it offers long-term benefits to producers, including preparing them for future green procurement regulations. The certificate is valid for three years and can be revised over time.

Last December, India announced a formula for classifying green steel. The agency categorizes it into three categories depending on the amount of carbon emissions per ton of alloy produced. The threshold for determining the categories will be reviewed every three years.