Members
Appreciate National Steel Policy 2017 and Policy for Providing Preference to Domestically
Manufactured Iron & Steel Products in Government Procurement
Focus On Enhancing Domestic Consumption, High
Quality Steel Production and Making the Sector Globally Competitive: Birender
Singh
The Union Minister of Steel, Chaudhary Birender
Singh chaired a meeting of Consultative Committee of Ministry of Steel in
Dharamshala today. The Members of
Parliament discussed and appreciated the new National Steel Policy 2017 and the
new Policy for Providing Preference to Domestically Manufactured Iron &
Steel Products in Government Procurement which were.
The Chairman & Steel Minister said that our
focus is on enhancing domestic consumption, high quality steel production and
making the Sector globally competitive in the country.
The most significant and far-reaching of all
policy interventions is the rolling out of the National Steel Policy 2017. The
policy lays forward the road map for the industry in the coming years and will
help in harnessing the sector’s untapped potential. The policy reflects the
aspirations of domestic steel industry for achieving 300MT of steelmaking
capacity by 2030-31. This translates into additional investment of about Rs. 10
lakh Crore and 1.1 Million additional workforce getting employed in the steel
sector.
Key features of NSP 2017 include:
·
creating self-sufficiency in steel production
·
encouraging adequate capacity additions,
·
developing globally competitive steel
manufacturing capabilities,
·
cost-efficient production and domestic
availability of iron ore, coking coal & natural gas,
·
facilitating foreign investment & asset
Acquisitions of raw materials
·
enhancing the domestic steel demand.
As part of the NSP, eMphasis is also being laid
at considering the total life cycle cost while evaluating projects rather than
looking at just the upfront cost in isolation. This would encourage greater
usage of steel in Government as well as Private sector.
The other policy mandates to provide preference
to Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products (DM1&SP), in
Government Procurement. The policy is applicable on all government tenders
where price bid is yet to be opened. DMI&SP policy provides a minimum value
addition of 15% in notified steel products which are covered under preferential
procurement. In order to provide flexibility, Ministry of Steel may review
specified steel products and the minimum value addition criterion.
There are provisions in the policy for waivers
to all such procurements, where specific grades of steel are not manufactured
in the country, or the quantities as per the demand of the project cannot be
met through domestic sources.
The policy is envisaged to promote growth and
development of domestic steel Industry and reduce the inclination to use, low
quality low cost imported steel in Government funded projects. It shall be the
responsibility of every Government Agency to ensure implementation of the
policy.
The members who participated in the meeting and
put forth some important suggestions during the discussions included:
·
Dr. Anupam Hazra
·
Shri M. Chandrakasi
·
Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal
·
Shri Bodh Singh Bhagat
·
Shri Sher Singh Ghubaya
·
Shri Shyama Charan Gupta
·
Shri Laxman Giluwa
The Officials from Steel Ministry who
participated included the Secretary Steel Dr. Aruna Sharma, Shri Saraswati
Prasad Addl. Secretary and Financial Advisor and Joint Secretaries Shri Sunil
Barthwal, Shri Syedin Abasi, Smt. Urvillla Khati and Shri T. Srinivas,
Industrial Advisor Shei S.K. Bhatnagar among others.
The Officials from Steel PSUs who were present
in the meeting included:
Shri P.K. Singh Chairman (SAIL), Smt. Soma
Mandal, Shri Atul Bhatt C.M.D. (MECON LTD.), Shri M. Bhaduri C.M.D.
(H.S.C.L.), Shri B.B. Singh C.M.D. (M.S.T.C LTD.), Shri P. Madhusudan
C.M.D.(RINL), Shri R. Sridharan C.M.D.(NMDC LTD.), and Shri M.P. Chaudhari
C.M.D. (Moil LTD.)
YSKataria/Dharamshala/Steel
