Global conference on sustainable steelmaking begins in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur: The International Conference on Sustainable Quality Steelmaking (ICSQS–2026), focusing on emerging trends in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and Induction Furnace (IF) routes, commenced at the Shavak Nanavati Technical Institute (SNTI) in Jamshedpur on Thursday. 

The two-day conference is being organized by Tata Steel in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), Jamshedpur Chapter, CSIR–National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), and the All India Induction Furnace Association (AIIFA).

The event was formally inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp in the presence of Dr. Sandeep Ghosh Chowdhury, Director of CSIR–NML; Yogesh Mandhani, President of the All India Sustainable Steel Manufacturers Association; Subodh Pandey, Vice President (Technology, R&D and Graphene), Tata Steel; Atanu Ranjan Pal, Chief Technology Officer (Process), Tata Steel; and T. Bhaskar, Chief Quality Assurance (Long Products).

The conference aims to provide a collaborative platform for steel industry professionals, researchers, raw material suppliers, plant operators, and technical experts to deliberate on the rapidly evolving landscape of alternative steelmaking routes such as EAF and IF. 

The programme features keynote addresses, technical sessions, and industry interactions, offering insights into advancements in furnace technology, process optimization, scrap management, and digitalization—key drivers for sustainable and high-quality liquid steel production.

In his welcome address, T. Bhaskar, Chairman of ICSQS–2026, emphasized the growing importance of sustainable and quality steel production through EAF and IF routes. 

Atanu Ranjan Pal, Chairman of the IIM Jamshedpur Chapter, highlighted the institute’s efforts to promote awareness among professionals and students in metallurgy and materials science, aligning the conference with Tata Steel’s broader initiatives.

Yogesh Mandhani underlined the increasing role of induction furnace technology in India and stressed the need for adopting advanced technologies.

 He also emphasized the importance of collaboration between primary and secondary steel producers. 

Subodh Pandey, Patron of ICSQS–2026, spoke about Tata Steel’s operations across geographies and addressed critical issues such as steel cleanliness, waste management, and cost optimization during the transition to green steel. 

He also pointed to the need for keeping pace with technological advancements, particularly in the context of developments in China.

Sandeep Ghosh Chowdhury highlighted challenges associated with scrap quality in EAF and IF processes, particularly the rising presence of tramp elements, which pose a significant concern with the increased adoption of these technologies.

The conference has received an enthusiastic response from academia and industry, with participation from over 200 delegates across sectors.

Key technical sessions at the conference include furnace technology and auxiliary systems, valorization and sustainability, scrap and raw material quality, metallurgical process control and liquid steel quality, as well as modeling and digitalization.