This means company can apply the special technology developed by CSIR-CRRI to
scientifically process steel slag aggregates at the flagship plant in Gujarat for their use in steel
slag road building
● License from country’s premier scientific institute, under the Ministry of Science & Technology,
reinforces firm’s leadership in innovation in line with circular economy and India’s net-zero goal
● Technology will reduce environmental degradation and natural resource strain when applied at
scale, replacing natural road-building aggregates
New Delhi/ Mumbai, : ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has partnered
with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Central Road Research Institute
(CRRI) to spearhead the transformative shift towards sustainable infrastructure development by
promoting the adoption of steel slag road technology that replaces the usage of natural
aggregates with processed steel slag aggregates in road construction. AM/NS India has
become the first company in the country to secure the coveted license for steel slag valorisation
technology from CSIR – CRRI, a premier national research institution operating under the
Ministry of Science & Technology, to produce processed steel slag aggregates for road
construction.
AM/NS India has received the ‘Steel Slag Valorization Technology for Development of
Processed EAF Steel Slag Aggregates at AM/NS India plant in Hazira for Utilization in Road
Construction’ certificate of license, which means the company can apply the special technology
developed by CSIR-CRRI to scientifically process steel slag aggregates at the flagship plant in
Hazira, Gujarat, for their use in road construction.
AM/NS India currently produces specially designed slag under the brand name ‘AM/NS Aakar’,
which meets the CSIR-CRRI’s stringent technical guidelines, specifications, and quality control
measures. Processed steel slag aggregates produced by AM/NS India under technological
license have proven to be more durable and cost-effective than natural aggregates typically
used in road and highway constructions. AM/NS India generates about 1.70 million tonnes of
steel slag annually, which now can be processed as per the CSIR-CRRI’s technology.
Satish Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-CRRI and inventor of the technology,
said: “The steel slag road technology is a game-changer for India’s road infrastructure. The
country generates over 19 million tonnes of steel slag annually, and the direct use of untreated
steel slag poses a significant risk to the mechanical properties and durability of the steel slag-
derived composites. With this license, AM/NS India – which collaborated with us in building
India’s first ‘all steel slag road’ in Hazira – is now being allowed to manufacture, market or sell
the specially designed processed steel slag aggregates for road construction.”
Ranjan Dhar, Director and Vice President, Sales & Marketing at ArcelorMittal Nippon
Steel India (AM/NS India), said: “We are proud to have received the first license of the
technology for steel slag valorization used for conversion of steel slag as road-making
aggregates. This achievement builds upon our previous involvement in successfully building
what is possibly the world’s first one-kilometre, six-lane road made from steel slag, which was
also recognised by the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records. This not only
reiterates our commitment to contribute to a circular economy by recycling and reusing by- products from our steelmaking operations but also sets a new benchmark, besides aligning with
Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s mission of ‘Waste to Wealth’.”
Scientifically processed steel slag for roads provides significant advantages over traditional
construction materials. The steel slag roads are about 30 to 40 % more cost-effective and can
last up to three times longer than standard bitumen roads, reducing repair and maintenance
needs. Their strength makes them suitable for various environments, from coastal regions to
rugged terrains.
Utilisation of unprocessed steel slag in road making poses challenges in durability of roads and
can cause environmental impact. To address this, CSIR-CRRI was awarded a national project
by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, to conduct scientific research on the uses of steel
slag in road construction, with AM/NS India opting to collaborate for the initiative. As a result,
India’s first ‘all steel slag road’ was built in Hazira using specially designed steel slag
aggregates in collaboration with the CSIR – CRRI. The road, which was made by replacing
natural aggregates in all the layers, was subsequently inaugurated by the then Hon’ble Union
Steel Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh in 2022.
In recent developments, the world’s first coastal steel slag road was inaugurated inside a private
port at Hazira. Another steel slag road ‘NH-53 diamond bourse’ in Surat was also developed,
which used ‘AM/NS Aakar’.
Meanwhile, steel slag generation is expected to reach 60 million tonnes by FY 2030,
considering the ongoing capacity augmentation in Indian steel plants to produce 300 million
tonnes of steel by FY 2030-31. Therefore, the Steel Ministry is promoting the usage of steel slag
road technology and actively collaborating with the Ministry of Science & Technology, and
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to facilitate the large-scale utilisation of the industrial by-
product. This initiative supports India’s circular economy, which is expected to generate a
market value of over $2 trillion and create close to 10 million jobs by 2050.
AM/NS India first to secure CSIR-CRRI’s breakthrough steel slag aggregates technology license to unlock ‘Waste-to-Wealth’ potential in road infrastructure development
