ArcelorMittal looks to supply steel for bullet train

ArcelorMittal's arm AM/NS India expects to supply high strength special steel for the bullet train project. AM/NS India Chairman Aditya Mittal last week announced a Rs 600 billion expansion plan for his company's plant at Hazira, Gujarat. As per the plan, the capacity of the plant will be scaled up to 15 million tonnes from 9 MT at present. Mittal said the expansion is in line with government initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat. He was addressing a gathering after performing the 'Bhoomi Pujan' to mark the beginning of the expansion project. The company’s plan is to expand the specialty steel portfolio and focus on segments such as automotive, transportation and renewables. “The first bullet train is expected to run on a 50-km section between Surat and Bilimora in 2026, and our steel will be on that train,” Mittal said, adding, “We are bringing technologies in that have not existed in India. We will make products that have never been made in the country.” Mittal is also the chief executive of parent company ArcelorMittal, which holds 60% equity in AM/NS India. In 2019, ArcelorMittal along with Japan's Nippon Steel completed the acquisition of the Essar Steel plant at Hazira in Gujarat, and renamed it to ArcelorMIttal Nippon Steel (AMNS) India. The company said this month that it has received environmental clearance for the expansion of the plant. See also: JSW Steel signs pact for decarbonisation of steel sectorBritain in talks with British Steel and Tata to secure industry's future