Centre establishes task force aimed at investigating integration of biochar

In India, the steel industry contributes around 2% to the country’s GDP, where interestingly, domestic steel sector contributes to 12 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, characterized by an emission intensity of 2.55 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of crude steel, notably higher than the global average of 1.9 tonnes of CO2.

To mitigate carbon emissions in the steel industry, the Government of India has established a task force aimed at investigating the integration of biochar into steel production processes.

Biochar is black carbon which is produced from biomass sources like agricultural waste products, among others.

Earlier in 2023, Union Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia approved the establishment of 13 task forces tasked with delineating action plans for various facets of green steel production and the uptake of sustainable manufacturing methodologies.

According to a steel ministry document, the ministry constituted the 14th task force to further enhance carbon reduction practices in the domestic steel industry through biochar.

According to a report from Ministry of Steel, energy consumption in most integrated steel plants in India tends to be notably higher, averaging between 6-6.5 Giga Calories per tonne of crude steel, compared to 4.5-5.0 in steel plants abroad. With the inclusion of biochar in steel making, steel production will likely accelerate, and carbon emissions will be reduced efficiently.