According to a World Bank report in 2016, India was home to 14 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world. Since then, India has made environmental policies a priority. Various strategic planning announcements and corresponding investment allocations have been made to improve India’s infrastructure and minimize pollution.
Most recently, India completed its largest city gas distribution auction as part of the National Gas Grid plan that seeks to extend coverage to half of it 1.3 billion population. The project seeks to have 10 million homes linked to the natural gas grid by 2020 and, thereby reducing smog in cities. The natural gas auction is part of India’s strategic plan to double the present share of natural gas use in the country to 15 percent by 2030 from its present energy mix. With the increased use of natural gas, emissions are expected to be reduced by one-third.
The expansion project is estimated at $4 billion in its first phase with expansion to $10 billion and will result in high demand for steel pipes. India has also recently added laws that give preference to domestic producers in public and public-private infrastructure investments. Chinese import material is also limited through various anti-dumping policies. The project is expected to require 12,500 km of pipes to be installed in the next 3-4 years.
Pipe makers expected to benefit in the domestic market include Maharashtra Seamless Ltd., Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd., Jindal Saw, and Man Industries India Ltd.