Tata Steel Switches to PNG to Reduce Emissions and Boost Sustainability

To further strengthen its status as an eco-friendly corporation, Tata Steel has substituted furnace oil with Piped Natural Gas (PNG) at its Ferro Alloys Plant (FAP) located in Jajpur district of Odisha. The sustainability program, marking the first in the country’s ferrochrome sector, will enable the company to greatly lower its carbon emissions and aid India in its path toward a more eco-friendly industrial future. 

The facility operating within Tata Steel's Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division (FAMD) has set up a PNG system and will utilize the cleaner fuel to preheat the chrome ore intended for making chrome ore briquette. The plant will allow the steel giant to fully substitute furnace oil as a fuel with natural gas, representing a significant advancement towards cleaner and more sustainable industrial practices.

 Inaugurating the PNG facility, Pankaj Satija, Executive-In-charge, FAMD, said, "Natural Gas burns cleaner than the furnace oil, producing significantly less harmful emissions especially in context of high sulphur content of furnace oil. By replacing furnace oil with PNG, we aim to contribute to the nation’s effort in mitigating the effects of global warming and moving towards options of lower carbon footprint. We remain steadfast in our commitment to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.”

The steel giant signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), India’s top public sector oil and gas firm, to ensure a long-term supply of piped natural gas. According to the MoU, BPCL shall provide the specified amount of natural gas via its pipeline to the Ferro Alloys Plant. The change will significantly decrease the Plant's carbon footprint and cut greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening Tata Steel's dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility.