Jindal Steel on Monday said it has started using syngas in its galvanising and colour coating line furnaces to deal with shortages of natural gas, LPG and propane, helping it maintain operations during supply disruptions. 

"In response to shortages of natural gas, LPG, and propane, Jindal Steel has now successfully deployed syngas in galvanising and colour coating line furnaces – marking the first such application in the steel industry. This has helped the company better mitigate fuel shortages in these unprecedented times," the company said in a filing to BSE. 

What is Syngas? 

Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a cleaner fuel made by converting coal, waste or biomass into usable energy. It is seen as a circular energy solution as it allows reuse of resources. 

The company said the shift to syngas, produced through coal gasification, has helped ease fuel constraints in key finishing processes. These processes rely on high-temperature furnaces to apply zinc coatings and colour layers to steel used in sectors such as construction, appliances and automobiles. 

Galvanising furnaces coat steel with zinc to protect it from corrosion, while colour coating furnaces apply and cure paint on metal surfaces. Both processes run on continuous, high-speed lines to improve durability and finish. 

How is Jindal Steel trying to turn to cleaner energies? 

The company also highlighted that it had earlier set up the country’s first coal gasification-based Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant, using syngas in iron-making. 

It further noted that it has introduced syngas injection in its blast furnace operations, reducing reliance on imported coking coal and cutting carbon emissions per tonne of steel. “This integrated deployment of syngas across the steelmaking value chain sets a new benchmark for efficiency, sustainability, and energy self-reliance,” it said. “Synthesis gas from swadeshi coal can replace imported methanol, ammonia, ammonium nitrate, and LNG. India must utilise its vast coal reserves to future-proof low-carbon growth and reduce forex outflow.” 

"Coal gasification... will lower emission intensity, support CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) compliance, and strengthen our export competitiveness," P K Biju Nair, Executive Director Angul, Jindal Steel, said. 

With investments exceeding $12 billion, Jindal Steel operates major facilities in Angul (Odisha), Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), and Patratu (Jharkhand), along with a presence in Africa.