OREANDA-NEWS. In its bid to become a ‘zero waste company’, Essar Steel India has signed an agreement with Harsco India Pvt Limited, for management of steel slag from EAF and Conarc furnaces. Harsco is a well-known and established global market leader in slag processing and metal recovery business.

The agreement is for a period of 15 years valued at USD 160 million over the duration of the contract. As per the agreement, Harsco will recover iron from the slag, which can then be reused in steel making. Harsco is a globally renowned company in slag management. After the metal is recovered, the sized slag finds varied applications in construction industry like in making paver blocks, road back fill, road laying, brick making and cement mix construction, among other usages.

Commenting on the agreement, Mr Rajiv Bhatnagar, Director, Hazira Facility of Essar Steel India, said, “This agreement is in line with the objective of Essar Steel to become a ‘zero waste company’. We remain committed to the cause of sustainable development.”

Essar Steel has already developed technology to convert the slag into paver blocks, which is not only cheaper than cement paver blocks but also stronger and heavier as compared to cement paver blocks. Essar Steel generates a million ton of slag annually, based of which ancillary units can be set up, for use of this slag to make aggregates.

This agreement is part of Essar Steel’s sustainability efforts. Essar Steel is a signatory to World Steel Association’s Sustainable Development Charter. Essar Steel has taken various steps to become a ‘zero waste company’ and ensure sustainable development. It includes recycle of blast furnace and Corex gas in sponge iron plant, recycling of water reduction in water usage, rain water harvesting, slurry pipe line for transportation of iron ore fines to pellet plant, to name a few.

Essar Steel is a recipient of many awards in sustainability including recognition from reputed institutions like Centre for Science and Environment, Water Digest, World Steel Association, Golden Peacock, Green Tech Foundation, CII, CII-ITC Sustainable Development Center, Carbon Disclosure Project to name a few.