Steel quality remains a worry in the midst of ascend in utilization

A recent survey by the World Steel Association (WSA) has predicted that India would pip the United States as the second largest steel consumer in the world. About 102.3 million tonne steel is expected to be consumed in India in the next year, where there is a pressing need for infrastructure development.

Recent incidents of bridges collapsing, roads caving in and other such mishaps have only heightened the crying need for better infrastructure in the country. However, there is an utter mismatch with the growth registered in steel demand, mostly fueled by domestic infrastructure projects. "We are likely to remain the second largest steel consumer in the world for some time now," said Birender Singh, Union steel minister, on Thursday. But as India takes long strides in the quantity of steel produced, has the quality of steel produced in the country taken a back seat? A recent study conducted by independent infrastructure think-tank, FIRST Construction Council, found that 18 out of 26 TMT bar brands in the country failed on quality parameters in sample tests.

The nitty gritty investigation on remaking bars (or TMT bars), utilized as the base for any RCC development, the exploration report is a resonating cautioning. While testing TMT bars of eight expansive essential steel makers and 24 auxiliary steel makers, the examination reasoned that the expanded level of sulfur and phosphorous utilized in these materials could render the bars to wind up weak.

A considerable measure lays on a TMT bar and any weak connection could cause a calamity. Right around 33% of the steel utilization in the nation is of TMT bars, involving a market of Rs 12,000 crore every year. This market is commanded by the optional steel makers (55 percent), who create steel from scrap steel and without following appropriate refining process, the examination said. Nonetheless, the TMT bars delivered by eight essential steelmakers finished the FCC-contrived pressure tests without a hitch. "This clarifies essential steel makers, who create steel utilizing iron ore, have a more steady quality and are more solid," said the FCC consider, which numerous in the business professed to support the eight major steel brands like SAIL, RINL, Tata Steel, Jindal Steel, JSW, and Electrotherm among others, whose items are more costly.

A money saving advantage investigation on the utilization of auxiliary steelmakers' TMT bars over essential ones uncovered that the expense of a foundation venture could be brought by up down to 40 percent, just with the utilization of less expensive TMT bars alone. "It is important the most when contractual workers contend to offer the least expense in executing government venture tenders," said Pratap Padode, president, FCC, whose specialists directed the investigation. Responding to the discoveries of the exploration ponder, Union Minister Birender Singh on Thursday requested that steelmakers stick to quality. "I would ask for all of you to self-force quality and benchmarks, as we seek a developing household advertise for steel," Singh said tending to the Indian Steel Conclave here.

• [Editor:janita]