THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
DELHI/MUMBAI,
FEBRUARY 5, 2026
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel
India (AM/NS India) has achieved a significant milestone in India’s
decarbonisation journey by becoming the country’s first integrated steel
producer to receive Green Steel certification under the Ministry of Steel’s
newly introduced Green Steel Taxonomy. The certification underscores the
company’s leadership in low-carbon steelmaking and its growing role in shaping
India’s evolving green steel ecosystem.
Under the new
framework, AM/NS India’s Hot Rolled (HR) coils and sheets have been awarded a
four-star rating, while its Cold Rolled (CR) coils and sheets have secured a
three-star rating. These products, widely used across critical sectors such as
automotive, infrastructure, defence, construction equipment and consumer
durables, are now officially recognised as government-certified Green Steel.
This enables downstream customers to meaningfully reduce Scope 3 emissions
across their value chains.
The Green Steel
certification is based on emissions intensity, with eligibility requiring steel
to be produced at less than 2.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per tonne of finished
steel (tCO₂e/tfs). Steel meeting this benchmark
is graded under a three-tier star rating system ranging from three to five
stars. AM/NS India’s flat steel products qualified for
certification following a rigorous audit conducted by the National Institute of
Secondary Steel Technology (NISST), which validated the company’s compliance
with the Green Steel criteria.
Commenting on the
achievement, Dilip Oommen, CEO of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, said
India’s Green Steel Taxonomy provides a clear roadmap for the future of the
steel industry and its decarbonisation efforts. He noted that AM/NS India has
long focused on manufacturing low-carbon steel through measurable actions to
reduce its carbon footprint, and the new framework further strengthens this
commitment. The certification, he said, reflects the company’s progress driven
by sustained investments in low-carbon processes and clean energy, while
reinforcing its brand promise of “Smarter Steels, Brighter Futures.” He added
that the recognition highlights the vital role steelmakers can play in
supporting national climate goals while remaining globally competitive.
AM/NS India’s success
in securing Green Steel certification is supported by its structurally
lower-carbon production profile. Around 65% of the company’s steelmaking
capacity is based on the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) route using natural gas,
significantly lowering dependence on coal-based processes. This transition has
enabled the company to achieve more than a 35% reduction in carbon dioxide
emissions intensity since 2015.
The company’s
emissions performance is further enhanced through the integration of renewable
energy. Clean power is supplied from a nearly 1 GW hybrid renewable energy
project in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, developed by AM Green Energy, which began
supplying electricity to AM/NS India’s flagship Hazira plant in Gujarat in
2025.
In December 2025,
ArcelorMittal announced plans to invest approximately USD 0.9 billion in three
additional renewable energy projects across Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Power generated from these projects will be supplied to AM/NS India, and once
completed, they are expected to double ArcelorMittal’s renewable energy
capacity in India to 2 GW.
Alongside these
initiatives, AM/NS India is also developing its own 550 MW hybrid renewable
energy project at Bhachau in Gujarat, comprising 300 MW of solar and 250 MW of
wind power. The project is estimated to deliver annual carbon dioxide savings
of around 0.9 million tonnes.
Following the
certification, AM/NS India has commenced commercial production of four-star
rated HR products and three-star rated CR products. This provides domestic
customers with a credible, government-verified green steel option and
strengthens India’s standing as a globally competitive and sustainable
steel-producing nation.
In FY25, AM/NS India
reported carbon dioxide emissions intensity that was 14 per cent lower than the
national average. Looking ahead, the company has set a target to reduce its
emissions intensity by 20% by 2030, measured against a 2021 baseline,
reinforcing its long-term commitment to sustainable growth and climate
responsibility.
