Increasing per capita steel consumption and production of special steel as well as enhancing raw material security will remain the key focus areas of the government in 2022.

Minister of State (MoS) Faggan Singh Kulaste said the focus will also be on finding new markets as the production of steel continues to grow in the country.

As per the National Steel Policy 2017, the government has set a target to ramp up the country's crude steel production output to 300 million tonnes (MT) by 2030. The policy also seeks to increase the domestic per capita steel consumption to the level of 160 kg by 2030.

In an interview with PTI, Kulaste said the per capita steel consumption in the country is at around 72.3 kg at present, while the capacity is at 143.9 MTPA (million tonnes per annum), and the focus will also be on increasing the output of special steel.

According to the minister, the Indian steel sector is full of opportunities, and the country must aim to grab the numero uno position in quality steel production.

The ministry has already directed the public sector undertakings (PSUs) and private players to take measures to cut imports of special steel.

"We at JSPL is advancing in our quest of making available world-class steel products at an affordable price for building nation of our dream. We are going to enhance our production during 2022, which will further increase the availability of steel in the domestic market," he said.