Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral
Goa, November 9, 2025 — The MRAI Sustainable Steel Conference 2025 (MSSC 2025), organised by the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), opened today at ITC Grand Goa, marking the state’s first major ferrous-focused steel and recycling conference. Supported by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, and the National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST), the two-day event drew over 300 delegates, including steelmakers, recyclers, policymakers, and sustainability experts from across India.
The conference, themed “Green Steel and Sustainable Growth,” aims to accelerate India’s transition toward low-carbon steelmaking, aligning with the government’s roadmap for 300 million tonnes of sustainable steel production by 2030. The inauguration began with the traditional lamp lighting, followed by a welcome address by Mr. Zain Nathani, Vice President, MRAI, who emphasized that the discussions held at MSSC 2025 would define the next decade of India’s steel industry, particularly in the domains of standards, sustainability, and innovation.
Mr. Keyur Shah, Managing Director, Mono Steel (India) Ltd. and MRAI Board Director, noted that this marks Goa’s first ferrous conference by MRAI and highlighted the association’s evolution from 45 members to over 1,800. He also discussed significant policy wins such as zero import duty on ferrous scrap, simplified PCI procedures, and India’s vehicle scrappage policy under NITI Aayog, while announcing plans for green circular recycling parks and skill development programs.
Mr. Yogesh Mandhani, President of the All India Induction Furnace Association (AIIFA), reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to sustainability, citing that 17 companies have already received Green Steel Certificates from NISST. He stressed that collaboration between the industry and government will be crucial in ensuring affordable, sustainable steel production.
MRAI President Mr. Sanjay Mehta lauded the Ministry of Steel’s proactive engagement, noting that MRAI now operates across 11 recycling verticals in partnership with NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Environment. He also announced plans for upcoming vertical-specific conferences across India, covering both ferrous and non-ferrous sectors.
Addressing the conference, Shri Parmjeet Singh, Director of NISST, outlined India’s Green Steel Taxonomy, introduced in December 2024, which provides the framework for classifying low-carbon steel. He highlighted that 47% of India’s 200 million tonnes of steel capacity comes from the secondary sector and 38% of this production uses ferrous scrap — underscoring recycling’s pivotal role in sustainability.
In a virtual address, Shri V. K. Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, noted that India, now the world’s second-largest steel producer with 152 million tonnes of crude steel output, must focus on producing steel sustainably. He outlined the ministry’s strategy of short-term energy efficiency, medium-term hydrogen and carbon capture, and long-term net-zero steelmaking by 2070.
The inaugural day featured technical sessions on BIS standards and the evolving green steel market. BIS Director Shri Dwaipayan Bhadra emphasized the organisation’s collaborative and research-driven approach to standards, while a second session moderated by Mr. Abhijit Kulkarni of EY–Parthenon explored green steel procurement, financing, and policy frameworks.
Panellists from CII, RMI India Foundation, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and Metalogic PMS discussed the importance of supportive policies and concessional financing to enable MSMEs to join the green transition. The day concluded with a networking dinner, fostering collaboration among government officials, industry leaders, and sustainability experts against Goa’s coastal backdrop.
The MRAI Sustainable Steel Conference 2025 continues on November 10, featuring discussions on carbon credits, recycling technology, and policy roadmaps for India’s sustainable industrial future.
