In a significant sustainability push, Tata Steel has announced its ambition to achieve 10-15 million tonnes of steel production through the recycling route over the next 10-15 years, according to a report. The steel giant is actively adopting low-carbon emission technologies in both its Indian and European operations to drive this transformation.
In FY25, Tata Steel recorded a total steel production of 30.92 million tonnes from its total installed capacity of 35 million tonnes across India, the UK, the Netherlands, and Thailand.
“..linearity to circularity is one shift we are making…. you will see in the next 10-15 years, 10-15 million tonnes of Tata Steel’s production will be through the recycling route,”
— TV Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel
Tata Steel plans to expand its domestic production capacity to 40 million tonnes by 2030. The company had earlier established a recycling plant near Delhi, and is now working on a 0.75-million tonne recycling-based steelmaking unit in Ludhiana, which is expected to be operational by the end of the current financial year.
Tata Steel is undertaking a major shift in the UK from conventional blast furnaces to electric arc furnace (EAF) technology. This transition is currently happening at its 3 million tonnes per annum facility in Port Talbot, South Wales.
“In the UK we’ve closed the blast furnaces and we’re building an electric arc furnace. In the Netherlands, we are in conversation with the Dutch government to do the similar thing. So, by 2035, we won’t have any blast furnaces operating in Europe. So, from producing 10 million tonnes of steel using blast furnaces, we’ll be producing 10 million tonnes of steel using alternate process routes such as greener,”
— TV Narendran
India: Over 26 million tonnes steel production capacity
UK: Transition underway at Port Talbot (3 MTPA)
Netherlands: Facility at IJmuiden, which produced 6.75 million tonnes of liquid steel in FY25
Thailand: Additional 1.7 million tonnes capacity
This transformation reflects Tata Steel’s commitment to decarbonisation, circular economy, and sustainable growth, positioning itself as a leader in green steel production.
Tata Steel’s strategic move toward recycled steel production marks a pivotal step in its sustainability journey. With a clear goal of producing 10-15 million tonnes of steel via the recycling route over the next 10-15 years, the company is embracing a circular economy model that reduces dependence on high-emission blast furnace operations.
By shifting to electric arc furnaces (EAFs) in Europe and expanding recycling-based units in India—including the upcoming 0.75 MTPA Ludhiana plant—Tata Steel is positioning itself as a frontrunner in green steel manufacturing. Its plan to increase domestic capacity to 40 million tonnes by 2030 underscores both ambition and alignment with global climate goals.
As traditional processes are phased out in the UK and the Netherlands, the focus on cleaner, low-carbon technologies reflects a significant transformation in industrial operations.
Tata Steel’s commitment highlights a broader industry trend toward sustainable production, setting a benchmark for others in the steel sector to follow.