ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has taken a significant step towards promoting sustainable infrastructure development by securing the first-ever license in the country for steel slag valorisation technology from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Central Road Research Institute (CSIR–CRRI). This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of steel slag road technology by replacing natural aggregates with scientifically processed steel slag aggregates in road construction.
The licensed technology, titled ‘Steel Slag Valorization Technology for Development of Processed EAF Steel Slag Aggregates at AM/NS India plant in Hazira for Utilization in Road Construction’, empowers AM/NS India to produce high-quality processed steel slag aggregates at its flagship plant in Hazira, Gujarat. The technology, developed by CSIR-CRRI, a premier national research institution under the Ministry of Science & Technology, enables the scientific processing of steel slag to ensure superior mechanical performance, durability, and environmental safety in road applications.
AM/NS India currently manufactures specially designed slag under the brand name ‘AM/NS Aakar’, which conforms to CSIR-CRRI’s rigorous technical specifications and quality control parameters. The company generates approximately 1.70 mt of steel slag annually, which will now be valorised through this licensed technology. The processed slag aggregates have demonstrated superior durability and cost-efficiency compared to traditional materials used in road and highway construction.
Satish Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist, 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 mt 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, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel 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-km, 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 offers multiple advantages over conventional construction materials. Roads made with steel slag are reported to be 30 to 40 per cent more cost-effective and can last up to three times longer than standard bitumen roads, significantly reducing repair and maintenance requirements. Their enhanced strength makes them suitable for diverse terrains, including coastal and rugged regions.
Recognising the potential of this technology, the Ministry of Steel awarded CSIR-CRRI a national project to research the scientific application of steel slag in road construction. AM/NS India partnered in this endeavour, resulting in India’s first ‘all steel slag road’ in Hazira, constructed by replacing natural aggregates in all layers with specially designed steel slag aggregates. The road was inaugurated in 2022 by the then Union Steel Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh.
In recent milestones, the world’s first coastal steel slag road was inaugurated within a private port in Hazira. Another prominent project—the NH-53 Diamond Bourse Road in Surat—was also completed using AM/NS Aakar aggregates.
With India’s steel production capacity projected to reach 300 mt by FY 2030-31, steel slag generation is expected to surge to 60 mt by FY 2030. In anticipation, the Ministry of Steel is actively working with the Ministry of Science & Technology and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to mainstream the usage of steel slag in infrastructure projects across the country.
This pioneering initiative aligns with India’s broader circular economy goals, which are projected to create a market worth over USD 2 trillion and generate nearly 10 million jobs by 2050.