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G.S. Venkata Subramanian,
Ex-Chief General Manager, Coke Ovens & Coal Chemicals Department, at Bhilai Steel Plant
Speaking at Eurocoke Summit on: Non-Recovery Heat-Recovery Coke Making in alignment with Viksit Bharat (Developed India) aspiration.
16-17 September 2026 | Barcelona, Spain
Book your ticket here to hear GS Venkata Speak
India’s steel industry is entering a pivotal period of growth. With national crude steel production projected to reach 300 million tonnes per annum by 2030, the sector faces a dual challenge: expanding capacity to meet rising demand while reducing the carbon intensity of production.
As one of the world’s fastest-growing steel markets, India is increasingly focused on how future growth is achieved. Investment decisions are no longer driven solely by output targets, but by efficiency, energy performance and long-term sustainability.
Ahead of Eurocoke Summit 2026, we spoke with G.S. Venkata Subramanian of Bhilai Steel Plant about how India’s rapid steel expansion, tightening environmental expectations and evolving global trade regulations are reshaping investment in coke making technologies.
India’s growing steel ambitions are accelerating investment across the coke making value chain, with producers looking beyond traditional capacity expansion toward technologies that improve operational efficiency and reduce dependence on imported raw materials.
According to Subramanian, the industry is increasingly focused on technologies that enable greater flexibility in coal sourcing while supporting productivity and environmental performance.
“To meet growing demand, the industry is investing in advanced technologies to process lower-quality domestic coal, reduce dependence on imports, and integrate greener practices,” he explains.
This shift is driving investment in areas such as stamp-charging technology, expanded coking coal washeries, waste heat recovery systems and advanced digitalisation tools that optimise coal blending and plant operations.
Major steelmakers are also investing in both brownfield and greenfield coke oven projects, alongside early-stage hydrogen and low-carbon initiatives aligned with India’s longer-term decarbonisation goals.
Rather than representing isolated upgrades, Subramanian sees these developments as part of a broader transformation across the sector.
“The shift is from traditional production toward more automated, efficient and environmentally conscious coke making technologies aimed at securing long-term sustainability for India’s steel growth.”
Alongside domestic growth opportunities, Indian producers are also preparing for a changing international regulatory landscape.
One of the most significant developments is the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which enters full implementation from 2026 and is expected to have major implications for steel exporters around the world.
While CBAM aims to address carbon leakage and create a more level playing field for lower-carbon producers, it presents a substantial challenge for countries with comparatively high emissions intensity.
“CBAM could increase prices for Indian steel exports by around €200–€225 per tonne in the early years, significantly impacting margins and competitiveness,” says Subramanian.
The challenge is amplified by India’s carbon intensity, which currently stands at approximately 2.6 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of steel, compared with a global average of around 1.85 tonnes.
As a result, producers face growing pressure to improve emissions performance, strengthen reporting capabilities and accelerate decarbonisation efforts.
However, Subramanian believes the regulation may ultimately have positive long-term effects for the industry.
“While challenging in the short term, CBAM acts as a catalyst for modernisation and adoption of greener production pathways, strengthening long-term competitiveness.”
Far from slowing investment, tightening environmental regulations are becoming a key driver of technological innovation across the coke sector.
“Yes—carbon regulations are unequivocally driving innovation in coke making technologies,” Subramanian states.
He points to a range of emerging solutions gaining momentum across the industry, including advanced coke making processes such as Japan’s SCOPE 21 technology, greater deployment of heat recovery and non-recovery coke ovens, and increased adoption of coke dry quenching systems that reduce emissions while recovering valuable energy.
At the same time, producers are exploring alternative carbon sources, including biomass and waste-derived materials, while digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT platforms and predictive analytics are helping operators optimise processes and improve environmental performance.
Looking further ahead, investment in carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies is expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting deeper emissions reductions.
Together, these developments reflect a fundamental change in how coke making is viewed within the steel value chain.
“Coke making is evolving from a traditional by-product process into a more automated, efficient and sustainable production system.”
India’s steel growth story is no longer defined solely by production volumes. Increasingly, success will depend on the industry's ability to balance expansion with efficiency, competitiveness and decarbonisation.
Between rising domestic demand, growing scrutiny of carbon emissions and new regulatory mechanisms such as CBAM, coke making technology is becoming a critical area of investment and innovation.
As Subramanian’s insights suggest, the coming decade will be defined by how effectively the industry can scale production while fundamentally reducing carbon intensity across the vaamlue chain—a challenge that is set to shape the future of Indian steelmaking.
Hear more from G.S. Venkata Subramanian at Eurocoke Summit this September! Book your ticket now!
GS Venkata Subramanian will be speaking at Eurocoke on Thursday 17th September, 2026 at 09.50am as part of Session 5 - Operational Excellence, Digitalisation & Coke Plant Performance. This session also includes the following speakers...
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