Question : Steel Plants

(a) the State-wise number of steel plants in the country at present;
(b) the details of the targets in respect of production of steel during each of the last three years;
(c) whether the said targets have been achieved; if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the number of steel plants which are functioning and earning profit;
(e) whether some steel plants have been closed or declared sick and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
(f) the steps taken/being taken or the efforts made/being made for revival of the aforesaid plants?

THE MINISTER OF STEEL (SHRI RAM CHANDRA PRASAD SINGH)

(a) The details of State-wise number of steel plants in country are given at Annexure-I.

(b)&(c): Steel is a de-regulated sector. However, the data on targets/achievements of steel production of Public Sector Steel plants during the last three years is as below:-
(Unit: ‘MT)
Financial Year 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
MoU Actual MoU Actual MoU Actual
Steel Authority of India Ltd.(SAIL) 16.73 16.27 17.27 16.16 16.40 15.22
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. (RINL) 5.50 5.00 5.80 4.45 5.40 4.16
Source: SAIL & RINL

With reference to SAIL, the shortfall in achievements against the set targets was due to sluggish market demand and COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and time taken in stabilization of production after expansion of capacity for RINL.

(d) According to data available the number of steel plants at present in the country is 887. Steel being a de-regulated sector, the data/information on profit/loss of private sector steel plants is not maintained by the Government. The details of profit/loss made by plants of Steel CPSEs during the last two years are as given below:-

Year Profit/Loss Before Tax in Rs. Crore
SAIL RINL
2019-20 -616 -4288
2020-21 5975 -1036
Source: SAIL & RINL

(e)&(f): According to available data during the year 2021-22 (provisional), 65 plants which manufacture crude steel in the country having a cumulative capacity of 4.1 million tonnes have reported nil production*. Steel being a deregulated sector, the role of the Government is that of a facilitator only. The decision regarding revival/closure of steel plants is taken by individual steel companies from time to time, based on commercial considerations and market dynamics {*Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC)}.

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