New Delhi: It is high time for India to transition from the research and development (R&D) stage to production of vanadium for usage in the steel industry, said R Saravanabhavan, Deputy Advisor, NITI Aayog. “India is a significant consumer of vanadium but is not a primary producer of the strategic metal. It is recovered as a by-product from the slag,” he said while addressing a webinar ‘Vanadium Usage in Indian Steel Industry’ organized by FICCI in collaboration with SRTMI.
Saravanabhavan said that India consumes approximately 4-5 per cent of the vanadium produced globally, with China accounting for 44-45 per cent of the consumption. Highlighting upon the importance of vanadium for the steel industry, he added, “It’s time that India transit from the R&D stage to production of vanadium domestically, for supporting import substitution under the National Mission of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.”
Parmjeet Singh, Additional Industrial Advisor, Ministry of Steel, highlighted upon the value chain of vanadium usage in steel industry from availability and sourcing of vanadium, production of ferrovanadium and alloying! “Construction sector is the biggest consumer of steel products, and vanadium plays an essential role in providing high strength and cost-effective solutions for steel applications in the construction. Vanadium is the most widely used alloying element for strengthening steels and enhancing the toughness of reinforcing bars employed in buildings, tunnels and bridges,” he added.
Singh also highlighted that vanadium micro-alloyed high strength rebar is a safe, reliable and cost-effective solution for concrete construction in earthquake prone regions, thus serving the society at large. “Indian steel industry should look to produce all types of steel, which are high in strength and toughness, which in a way will drive production and consumption of alloying elements like vanadium,” he noted.
VR Sharma, Co-Chair, FICCI Steel Committee and Managing Director, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, while highlighting upon the importance and benefits of vanadium for the steel sector, mentioned, “Vanadium finds increased usage in plate manufacturing and various forging applications and have an important role in steel alloying for high strength and toughness applications." He also emphasized on the need for reducing cost and increasing value proposition for enhancing vanadium usage in the sector.
Pankaj Satija, Co-Chair, FICCI Mining Committee and Managing Director, Tata Steel Mining Ltd highlighted that by 2025, 85 per cent of automobiles would have vanadium alloyed steel. Highlighting upon the inter-linkage of vanadium for high strength steels, he said: “The world needs more of steel and thus more of vanadium.”
The webinar also had participation of prominent industry players and experts including Dr Mukesh Kumar, Director, SRTMI, S Narahari Prasad, Assistant General Manager, Midhani Ltd, Devasish Mishra, Executive Vice President, JSW Steel Ltd, Prakash Tatia, Director, Welspun Specialty Solutions, Dr Anil Dhawan, Executive Director, Alloy Steel Producers Association of India, KK Bariar, Advisor (QC), Sunflag Iron & Steel Co Ltd, Dr Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury, Scientist G, Head Material Science and Technology Division, CSIR-NML and David N Crowther, Technical Consultant, Vanitec Pvt Ltd. /BI/
