PIB News Update: Union Minister for Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has informed that The measures taken by the Government to boost steel production in light of the COVID-19 lockdown are as following:-
Ministry of Steel has held several rounds of consultations during the lockdown period with various stakeholders including industry associations and leaders of domestic steel industry to address their issues by taking up the same with the concerned Ministries/Departments of the Central Government and State Governments. Ministry of Steel also notified a nodal officer in the Ministry to receive representations from the steel industry on issues arising out of lock down for speedy redressal. Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time have facilitated speedy resumption of steel production. The Ministry of Steel has also organized the following Webinars with relevant stakeholders to enhance the overall demand for steel in the country:
- Oil and Gas Sector, 16th June, 2020.
- Ispati Irada, Enhancing Steel Usage, 30th June, 2020.
- Housing and Civil Aviation Sector, 18th August, 2020.
- Agriculture, Rural Development, Dairying and Food Processing Sectors, 20thOctober 2020.
Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products (DMI&SP) Policy, has been suitably amended vide notification dated 31st December, 2020, in order to align it to the revised Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017. The minimum value addition has been enhanced from 15% to 20% and the policy is now applicable to all procurement above Rupees 5 lakhs and includes EPC contracts among other changes.
The details of month wise crude steel production during the period March-December, 2020 are as under:
| Month | Crude Steel Production (in million tonnes) |
| Mar.-20 | 8.09 |
| Apr.-20 | 3.29 |
| May.-20 | 6.26 |
| Jun.-20 | 7.71 |
| Jul.-20 | 8.69 |
| Aug.-20 | 9.10 |
| Sep.-20* | 8.89 |
| Oct.-20* | 9.54 |
| Nov.-20* | 9.45 |
| Dec.-20* | 9.80 |
| Source: Joint Plant Committee; *provisional | |