Que: How do you view India’s push towards green industrialisation, and how does John Cockerill’s global vision align with India’s goals for decarbonisation and self-reliant manufacturing?

Ans: We are committed to helping India meet its stated target of producing 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030 and expanding non-fossil power capacity to 500 GW. For this, we will leverage our global expertise and deepen local partnerships. Through our collaboration with IIT Bombay, for instance, we are connecting academic research to the needs of the industry. Together, we are driving research and innovation for steel decarbonisation and the green hydrogen value chain and developing solutions for hydrogen production, storage, transport, and use. This partnership underlines our commitment to nurturing local innovation that supports India’s infrastructure growth and sustainability objectives.

Furthermore, through our joint venture with AM Green in Kakinada, we aim to establish multi-hundred MW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity by 2029, thus supporting India’s manufacturing goals. Our approach combines advanced technology, local skilling, and meaningful partnerships to build a strong, future-ready industrial ecosystem that will support India’s transition to a green economy.

Que: What are your upcoming plans for large-scale green steel downstream facilities in India? What scale and timelines are we looking at?

Ans: John Cockerill will help in establishing and expanding large-scale green steel downstream facilities in India by delivering innovative engineering solutions that enhance production efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve resource utilisation within the steel value chain. We are working closely with leading steel manufacturers to modernise and optimise their operations by implementing state-of-the-art furnaces, integrated automation systems, and sustainability-focused solutions like waste heat recovery and carbon capture.

Our workshops in Taloja and Hedavali are well-equipped with advanced machinery and safety protocols to support such projects. We have recently signed contracts with JSW JFE Electrical Steel Nashik for tunnel furnaces and coil handling equipment, and bagged projects with Tata Steel and Jindal Steel. These wins demonstrate our capability to deliver customised green downstream solutions.

We have identified operational milestones over the next 3-5 years to help India’s steel sector transition towards more sustainable and efficient production, which will give a boost to the country’s long-term global competitiveness.

Que: The company is deploying some of India’s largest electrolyser plants. Can you give us an overview of these projects?

Ans: We are focusing on providing reliable, efficient, and cost-effective green hydrogen production solutions that will help in decarbonising key industrial sectors such as steel, chemicals, and power generation. With phased commissioning planned by 2029, our projects will contribute to India’s emerging green hydrogen economy and the national goals for sustainability and self-reliance in energy. The multi hundred MW green hydrogen electrolyser plant we are setting up at Kakinada, through our joint venture with AM Green, is one of the first and major steps towards deploying world-class alkaline electrolyser technology at scale.

Que: What are some key innovations you have introduced in the cold rolling and processing of carbon and silicon steels?

Ans: Globally, the demand for electrical steels is rising sharply expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 7 percent through 2030, driven by EVs, renewable energy, and electrification trends. To meet this demand, we have developed technologies that directly enhance performance, quality, and sustainability in cold rolling and processing lines. These include:
• Integrated automation and digital twin systems that optimise production, reduce downtime, and improve yield.
• Low-energy annealing furnaces, which lower energy consumption by up to 20 percent compared to conventional systems while ensuring superior surface quality.
• High-precision silicon steel processing lines, critical for manufacturing advanced electrical steels used in transformers, wind turbines, and EV motors.
• Waste heat recovery systems that capture and reuse thermal energy, reducing both operating costs and CO₂ emissions.

These solutions enable Indian steelmakers to deliver world-class quality while achieving cost efficiency and environmental compliance, thereby positioning them strongly to serve both domestic and export markets.

Que: There’s often concern about the cost of green technologies. How is John Cockerill helping Indian steelmakers remain globally competitive while decarbonising?

Ans: Although the transition to green steel entails significant upfront costs, the long-term economic case for it is becoming increasingly compelling. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), producing green steel currently costs 20-30 percent more than conventional steel. However, with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) taking effect and buyers increasingly demanding low-carbon products, early adopters of green technology will gain a competitive advantage in the market.

John Cockerill helps Indian steelmakers address the upfront cost aspect in multiple ways. One, our automation and energy-efficiency technologies lower production costs by reducing energy intensity. Two, we offer modular and scalable decarbonisation solutions, which allow phased adoption aligned with investment cycles. Three, our localised manufacturing and supply chains reduces capex by avoiding imports and helps us create cost-efficient, India-centric solutions.

By thus balancing sustainability with cost competitiveness, we help Indian producers improve profitability and access premium global markets that demand certified green steel.

Que: Do you see India becoming a global hub or model for green steel manufacturing? What are John Cockerill’s investment and expansion plans for India in line with that?

Ans: India certainly has the fundamentals to emerge as a global hub for green steel manufacturing. According to the IBEF, India is the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel, with an output of 137.96 MT of crude steel and finished steel production of 132.57 MT in FY25. Demand is projected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 7 percent till 2030. Meanwhile, India’s renewable energy capacity stood at 220.10 GW as of 31 March 2025, and the goal is to reach 500 GW by 2030. Both these factors augur well for strengthening the ecosystem for green steel production.

John Cockerill views India as a strategic growth partner and a future centre of excellence for sustainable steel and hydrogen technologies. We are expanding our local engineering and manufacturing footprint to serve both domestic and global markets. We are also investing in R&D partnerships with Indian institutes to advance low-carbon steel and hydrogen innovation and scaling up deployment of multi-hundred-MW electrolyser projects to enable green hydrogen adoption in steelmaking.

Through these initiatives, we aim to help India become not only a leading producer of green steel but also a global model for sustainable industrialisation.