� INTERVIEW �
Almost 75 % of scrap is provided by the customers .
GSW : You mentioned premium pricing . The cost of green steel still remains high . How is the market looking ? Are the customers willing to pay that premium pricing for a more sustainable product ?
RKG : We are discussing this with our European customers and most of them are talking about the premiums , but still the mindset is not to spend more until there is sort of a regulatory requirement . And that is going to come in the form of CBAM in Europe soon .
GSW : What was the reason for your company ´ s energy transition ?
RKG : It has been our continuous mission to make our production more efficient and less energyintensive . When our Prime Minister committed to certain goals at COP26 , we realized that we should act as soon as possible and demonstrate to the world that our goals are achievable . We wanted to show that India can not only do it but also lead from the front .
GSW : I am sure you must have faced some kind of challenges because the transition is not easy . Can you please tell us more about the challenges you were / are facing ?
RKG : There were many challenges , the first one in terms of using additional investment . We are not getting any premium . It is going to be a while before we start getting some returns .
There are definitely more challenges in terms of raw materials and similar . However , somebody has to take the lead in such a noble cause . Not many are ready to take the risk until there is a regulatory requirement . Changes will never happen if we only wait . And when it comes to climate change , we believe there is no time to wait . We took that risk , and I am sure it is only a matter of time before we start getting some advantage .
GSW : Is there anything that you would like to highlight through this interview or is there anything that you would like to add ?
RKG : I would like to add that India ´ s future is bright . Everything that has happened globally in the last 4-5 years has brought many opportunities for us . People have started believing more in India , people have started looking at India as a second source . As a country , we are much more reliable . This is very important . We are capable of producing highquality products . I believe the global market , whether it is the European or the US market , is welcoming us with open arms . I have no doubts that India will definitely lead the next global energy transition from Fossils to Green .
Green Steel World | Issue 9 | November 2023 41