AM/NS India 1st to Get CSIR-CRRI’s Breakthrough Steel Slag Aggregates Technology License

Background and Significance

ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), one of India’s leading steelmakers, has become the first company in the country to secure a licence from CSIR‑Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to commercially manufacture, market, and sell processed steel‑slag aggregates for road construction. The licence—granted by CSIR‑CRRI—authorizes AM/NS India to employ an advanced technology developed for scientifically treating steel slag, a by‑product of steel production, transforming it into durable road‑building aggregates

What Is Steel Slag & Why This Matters

Steel slag is generated during steel manufacturing and comprises impurities separated from molten metal. Traditionally treated as waste, steel slag accumulates in large volumes. Annual output is projected to rise sharply—potentially reaching 60 million tonnes over the next five years—as India aims for 300 million tonnes of steel production by 2030–31 Processing and repurposing this material helps in waste minimization and addresses the demand for construction aggregates. Given that India requires around 1.8 billion tonnes of natural aggregates annually, using processed slag helps reduce quarrying, environmental degradation, and ecosystem disturbance.

The CSIR‑CRRI Technology & Guidelines

The technology licensed to AM/NS India, known as the Steel Slag Valorisation Technology, is the outcome of a funded R&D project by the Ministry of Steel, executed by CSIR‑CRRI. In July 2024, formal Guidelines and Specifications for Utilisation of Steel Slag in Road Construction were released, offering a robust framework covering processing methods, quality control, safe storage, and handling to prevent environmental harm.

CSIR‑CRRI had previously demonstrated practical success by constructing India’s first 100% steel slag road—a 6‑lane stretch at Hazira‑Surat built in April 2022 using about 100,000 tonnes of processed electric arc furnace (EAF) slag from AM/NS India’s Hazira plant. The road met all structural performance criteria, demonstrating exceptional durability and drew national and international acclaim, including entries in the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records.

Licence Granted & What It Entails

On July 25, 2025, AM/NS India announced that it had formally received the licence to “manufacture, market and sell specially designed processed steel slag aggregates for road construction” using the CSIR‑CRRI‑developed methodology. The technology enables AM/NS India to brand and market this processed slag (sold under “AM/NS Aakar”), produced at its flagship Hazira facility in Gujarat, adhering to stringent quality specifications and testing protocols laid down by CRRI.

Ranjan Dhar, Director and Vice President (Sales & Marketing) at AM/NS India, emphasized the company’s pride in being the first licensee of this transformative technology for steel slag valorisation—a key stride in turning industrial waste into infrastructure-grade materials.

Satish Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR‑CRRI, noted that untreated slag poses “significant risk to mechanical properties and durability,” while processed slag aggregates, when treated under CRRI’s protocols, can deliver consistent structural reliability.

Advantages: Cost, Durability, Sustainability

Processed steel slag aggregates offer compelling advantages over traditional natural aggregates:

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• They are 30% to 40% more cost‑effective, due to lower feedstock expense and reduced life‑cycle maintenance
• Roads built with such aggregates can last up to three times longer than standard bituminous roads, given their enhanced strength and resilience.
• They perform well across varying climatic and geographical conditions—from coastal zones to rugged interior regions.
• From an environmental standpoint, using processed slag helps conserve natural aggregates, reduces landfill burden, and supports India’s Waste‑to‑Wealth initiative.

The Ministry of Steel is coordinating with the Ministries of Science & Technology and Road Transport & Highways to promote large‑scale adoption of slag‑based road technologies nationwide.

Outlook & Broader Impact

With AM/NS India now fronting commercial operations under the CRRI licence, this milestone marks a pivotal step in mainstreaming sustainable infrastructure materials in India. As steel production grows towards the 300 Mt target, the volume of slag available for valorisation will scale, making these processed aggregates an increasingly viable and eco‑friendly substitute for traditional road‑building materials.

This initiative supports national goals of reducing carbon emissions, limiting mining of virgin aggregates, and fostering circular economy principles in the steel and construction sectors. Future expansion may involve replication by other steel producers, scale‑up across Indian states, and even potential export of the technology abroad—indeed, CSIR‑CRRI has reportedly received international interest, including from the United States, to license or extend the technology globally.

Conclusion

AM/NS India’s licensing of CSIR‑CRRI’s steel slag aggregate technology represents a landmark convergence of industrial innovation, environmental stewardship, and infrastructure development. As the first licensee, the company is well-positioned to transform steel waste into a high-performance road material that is cost-effective, durable, and sustainable. This model could serve as a blueprint for India’s broader transition toward circular‑economy construction practices and showcase homegrown technology leadership in sustainable.

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Construction, Infrastructure and Mining   
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