Tube & Pipe India EMagazine Apr-May Issue 2023

6th, 7th, 8th

April-May, 2023

October, 2023

Hall No.: 2, 3, 4 & 6 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

ISMT Envisioning Saleable Capacity of 2.5 lakh MT for Seamless Tubes ....12

Crippa SpA, Offers the Widest Range of Tube Processing Machines ....20 International Exhibition for Tube & Pipe Industry

Good Luck India Expanding Gujarat GI Mill, Targets INR 3,400 Crore Turnover ....24

Shah Foils: Excellence in Stainless Steel, Precision that Ensures Perfection ....28

Superiority of HDPE Pipes in Hilly Areas of Himachal Pradesh ....36

The company has its advent in the year 1992. The foundation of this enterprise was laid with a forethought of providing superior quality, reliability and achieving the highest standards of customer contentment. Backed bytheexperienceandtechnicalknowhowof over three decades by the promoters, 'ROLLCON' offers value in the field of processingofflatsteelproducts.

ENGINEERED TO BRANDED TECHNOLOGY

Take the best that exists and make it better “ ”

Pickling Lines

Tube Mills

Color Coating Lines

Cold Rolling Mills

India's Share is 46% in Asia's Pipeline Length Addition During 2023-27 ....70

IOC to Spend INR 17 Billion to Construct 2 Petroleum Pipelines ....70

Nigeria-Morocco

5,600 Km Long Gas Pipeline Project Estimated at USD 25 Billion ....75

Indian Steel Industry's Future: Green Steel Mandatory ....84

....83

Huliot India: PP Plastic Pipes & Fittings to Overcome PVC and CPVC-Induced Hazards

Superiority of HDPE Pipes in Hilly Areas of Himachal Pradesh

Boray Boru, Turkey: 25 Years of Experience in Galavanized Tubes & Profiles Manufacturing

Maharashtra Seamless Wins Order Worth INR 262 Crore from ONGC ....34

Welspun's Associate Firm EPIC Signs Large Diameter Steel Pipes Contract With Saudi Aramco Worth INR 4,000 Crore ....30

O.P. Jindal Group's NSSL to Set Up 6,00,000 TPA Square, Rectangular Pipes Manufacturing Unit In Chhattisgarh ....44

DRIVERS

BLM GROUP Launches VGPNext CAD/CAM Programming Software for Tube Bending Machines ....83

Xiris Launches Camera-Based Measurement Tool SeamMonitor™ for Precise TIG Tube Welding

Speakin

Green Steel: A Transitional Saga

Decarbonization is a worldwide movement, and the European Union (EU) has proposed CarbonBorderAdjustmentMechanism(CBAM),apolicythathascreatedquiteastir.

CBAM aims at taxing commodity imports based on their carbon emission footprint. It will be implemented in three phases, culminating in a Plastics Tax. W.e.f. October 1, 2023, Emissions Trading System (ETS) will assess the manufacturing process of every consignment of steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, hydrogen, and electricity imports in Europe for its carbon footprint. Initially starting with six, the scope of commodities will broaden to transform into the Carbon Tax of 25-30 percent from January 2026. The tax shall be levied similarly to Excise Duty in accordance with the features of the imported commodity.

Naturally, exporters to Europe need to assess and re-design their manufacturing processes to clear the border trade barriers. One of the six commodities shortlisted is steel, which contributes to 8 percent of emissions worldwide. Decarbonization in steel manufacturing is possible through Green Steel, which is manufacturing without the use of fossil fuels and practices leading to carbon emissions.

NetZero targets have been set worldwide, the EU's target is 2050 and various laws, regulations, and policies have been designed to aid in lesser emissions. However, the absence of caps beyond the EU will lead to Carbon Leakage with manufacturing processes shifting to non-restrictive regions. The EU's CBAM will heavily scrutinize import commodities for the carbon footprint of their manufacturing processes and hamper Carbon Leakage.

The vision for this note was clear; I wanted to talk oneon-one with the readers about all that Tube & Pipe India has to offer. I wanted to share our efforts in bringing forward this edition, the concurrent events of the industry, and a small, profound piece of personal opinion. There are various ways to achieve our targets, and mine was to ensure a connection with my readers.

As per the EU, CBAM will help cut down the emissions of the steel, iron, and aluminum industry in Europe by nearly 29 percent. Steel manufacturing comes under heavy industrial functions. Presently, oxygen is the catalyst used to manufacture steel, which when oxidized at high temperatures in fossil-based furnaces results in CO emissions. 2 Green Hydrogen is proposed as an alternative to this catalyst, as its oxidization at high temperatures results in water. The transition to Green Steel entails the replacement of fossil energy with renewable energy with the least possible emissions. However, heavy structural changes across the manufacturing set-up are required, leading to a capex investment of huge amounts even in isolated settings. According to ArcelorMittal, it will have to invest nearly USD 40 billion to meet the 2030 requirements of the EU. As of today, time and cost are stronger catalysts in the Green Steel transition.

While the World Bank is working with the EU to discuss Carbon Tax pricing, World Trade Organization (WTO) is assessing the base motives of the policy. CBAM poses a significant concern for various countries, including India which manufactures 6.1 percent of the world's steel, and whose steel, iron, and aluminium exports to the EU amount to 27 percent of its overall steel exports.

Meanwhile, India has its own NetZero targets in place, going up to 2070. The Ministry of Steel has identified three phases for the Green Steel transition; 2030: reduction of emissions through energy and resource efficiency and shifting to renewable energy; 2030-47: utilization of green hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization, and storage; 2047-70: disruptive alternative technological innovations. In 2022, The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission to transform India into a lead producer, and exporter of Green Hydrogen and derivative applications. Recently, Shri JyotiradityaScindia, Union Minister of Steel of India, approved 13 task forces for Green Steel, which will design and organize action plans to integrate Green Steel in India.

Priyank Jain, CEO Tulip 3P Media Private Limited

ISMT Envisioning Saleable Capacity of 2.5

lakh MT for Seamless Tubes

Started in 1977, with a unique combination of assel mills, a premium quality

finishing(PQF) mill, and an integrated steel manufacturing facility, Indian Seamless Metal Tubes (ISMT) is one of the most diversified manufacturers of specialized seamless tubes. ISMT produces both hot-finished as well as cold-finished seamless tubes catering to applications such as the manufacture of auto-components, bearing races, OCTG products, drill rods, boilers, heat-exchangers, etc. Tube & Pipe India feels fortunate to converse with Mr. Nishikant Ektare, Managing Director, ISMT as he elaborates on the business plans to aggressively push and maximize capacity utilization of the steel and tube plant and invest CAPEX for various debottlenecking operations.

Tube & Pipe India: Please tell us about Indian Seamless Metal Tubes (ISMT) Limited, highlighting the company's business journey, major milestones and achievements.

Nishikant Ektare: ISMT was started by a group of technocrats for production of bearing tubes through seamless route as an import substitute in 1977 and the first plant at Ahmednagar commenced operation in 1980 with 1 assel mill and an installed capacity of 15,000 MTPA. Later the company expanded by setting up another mill of similar capacity as the demand for tubes was continuously rising. The company as part of its strategy to be self-reliant for the raw material- steel billets, decided to set up a steel plant and become a fully integrated manufacturer in 1993 when the GoI liberalized the economy. The steel plant then christened ISSAL (Indian Seamless Steels & Alloys Ltd) was commissioned with an installed capacity of 3.0 Lakh MTPA commenced commercial production in 1995. Subsequently, the company also acquired KSTL (Kalyani Seamless Tubes Ltd.) from the Kalyani group in 2000 thus marking the foray into larger diameter tubes for varied application. In the year 2005, all the 3 companies were merged and the new entity ISMT Ltd was formed. ISMT Ltd., also acquired Structo Hydraulics AB in Sweden to cater to the hydraulic segment in Europe and was a leading supplier to the large OEMs.

The company went through severe financial crises with Chinese dumping and the market slow down post 2012 and Apr-May 2023

was reeling under losses and strained operations. In March 2022, Kirloskar Ferrous acquired a majority stake in ISMT Ltd and with this the new management came on board. The management went about addressing the major concerns facing the company viz restoring positive net worth, negotiatedsourcingofRM,improvingcustomersatisfaction, aggressive market push for volumes to load the plants for full capacity utilization and also focusing on costs with a view to improve contribution. The result of these actions helped the companytoturnaroundinthevery1stquarteraftertakeover.

TPI: Kindly give a brief walkthrough of the manufacturing facilities, infrastructure and machinery setup along with the production capacity.

NE: Steel Plant at Jejuri: The company has installed a EAF (electric arc furnace) with 55 MT capacity capable of making 18 to 20 heats per day with downstream facilities of LRF( ladle refining furnace), VD/VOD (vacuum degassing), concast, rolling mill, heat treatment furnaces and supporting infrastructure like the fume extraction, oxygen plant, laboratory etc to effectively produce 3.0 Lakh MT of billets and about 1.50 lakh MT of rolled bars. About 70% of the production is for captive consumption and the balance is sold to the market for bearing and auto application. We cast billets in dia 180, 200 and 225 mm and rolled bars from 25 mm to 90 mm with varied alloy compositions. We also make super critical T9 and T91 gradesfortheboilerapplication.

Tube Plant at Nagar: The Company has an annual installed capacity of 60,000 MT for tube rolling and around 55,000 MT for finished tubes. The plant has 2 assel mills with the associated heating furnaces, finishing lines, nondestructive testing and allied facilities. The Nagar plant caters to smaller dia tubes in the size range of 16 mm to 140 mm and has the cold draw, cold pilger and the hot finish tube manufacturing facilities. The plant is equipped with all the finishing and testing equipments including heat treatment and handling infrastructure. The Nagar plant also has 2 sub divisions wherein smaller dia tubes and components are manufactured. The major segments serviced by the Nagar plant is automotive, bearing and miningindustry.

Tube Plant at Baramati: The company has an installed capacity of 3.0 Lakh MT of rolling and around 1.50 lakh MT for finished tubes. The plant has 1 assel mill capable of producing tubes from 7” to 10” and a PQF mill capable of producing from 1.5” to 5.5”. The associated infrastructure of handling, heat treatment, testing facilities are available

“In March 2022, Kirloskar Ferrous acquired a majority stake in ISMT Ltd and with this the new management came on board.”

for each of the types of tubes being manufactured whether they are cold drawn, casing, tubing or hot finish. The Baramati plant caters to a wider range of markets and serves oil & gas, power, refineries, auto, hydraulics, mining andindustrialsegments.

TPI: Please elaborate on the product range of ISMT Limited, emphasizing on their features, applications and advantages.

NE:Steel:

Features: Rolled bars from 25 mm dia to 90 mm dia also spheroidizedandannealedasrequired

Application: Varied- bearing races, automotive shafts, spindles,gears,rollersetc.

Advantages: EAF route clean steel, low Ti grades for unique bearing applications, short delivery cycles, small batchquantityandreadyavailability

Tube:

Features: Size range from 16mm dia to 273 mm dia, quenched and tempers, normalised, cold drawn hot finish, coldpilgeredetc.

Application: Across diverse segments of automotive, bearing, boilers, projects, oil & gas, general engineering, hydraulics,miningetc.

Advantages: Best in class quality, superior surface finish, traceability,highalloytubes,moderateMOQ

TPI: What kind of capacity expansions has ISMT recently undertaken and is planning in the near future? Please elaborate on the new infrastructure, machinery setup, and manufacturing and production capacity of the recent expansion.

NE: We are planning CAPEX to de-bottleneck the finishing capacities at Nagar and BMT to be able to realize the full capacity of the plant. Our endeavor is also to restore all equipment to the original working conditions after years of neglect and wear. With the planned CAPEX over 2 years we intend to take the saleable capacity to 2.5 lakh MT of seamless tubes. The major investment will be made in shed

extensions, FG storage, NDT equipment, material handling,roads,drainagesandcompoundwall.

TPI: Could you elaborate on the company's vast clientele and market share?

NE: The company operates in the major segments of automotive, bearing, general engineering, hydraulics, mining, export, projects, defense, boiler, oil & gas, redrawers and trade and is Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier to the OEMs. ISMT boasts of predominant market share in the Auto and Bearing segments and is pursuing improving market share in the Oil and Gas sectors as the market is boomingandthereexistshugeopportunities.

Ourproductsfindapplicationandaresuppliedtotheleading in the passenger &, commercial vehicle, tractor, agricultural implements, construction equipment, hydraulics, mining, defense and oil majors like ONGC, Oil India, major project companies like L&T, ThyssenKrupp and power plant equipmentsupplierslikeThermax,ISGECetc.

Presently, ISMT has a market share of approximately 17% in the seamless tube business and we have lined up plans to improveourmarketshareto>25%inthenext5years.

TPI: What according to you are the major USPs contributing to ISMT Limited's growth in the industry?

NE: Our major USP is the integrated steel manufacturing facility that gives us scope for development of new grades, shorter lead times for supply and also takes part in niche small volume business. We also can work closely and quickly for adoption of process changes and emergent requirementsofouresteemedcustomers.

TPI: As major players in the tubes & pipes industry, kindly shed some light on the current scenario, ongoing challenges and upcoming opportunities in the global and Indian tubes & pipes market.

NE: The seamless tube market in India is slated to grow at a CAGR of 7% for the next 7 to 8 years considering that most of the segments are growing whether it is oil & gas, power projects, automotive and defense. There is also huge demand coming in from North America and the Middleeast owing to the strategies of these countries to have an alternative to China. Indian seamless tube manufacturers will have to build capabilities in product development for a wide range of applications like geo-thermal and specialized oil&gastopartakeinthesebusinessopportunities. Post opening up of China after COVID 19 by October 2022, we have witnessed huge quantities of seamless tubes and rings coming into India at substantially low prices thus destabilizingthebusinessintheshortterm.

TPI: What are the company's long term and short term plans for growth in the future?

NE: Our short term goal is to aggressively push and maximize capacity utilization of the steel and tube plant and invest CAPEX for various de-bottlenecking operations. As part of a long term strategy, we would foray into seamless tubes larger than 10” dia and necessary investmentswillbemadeinthecomingyears.

Vishal Pipes Envision Escalation of 75% in Overall Production Capacity

Incorporated in 1988, Vishal Pipes

Limited is a leading manufacturer of steel pipes and tubes, steel poles, steel structures with medium to heavy fabrication, polymer pipes, UPVC, CPVC, HDPE and MDPE pipes and LED lights. The organization has its headquarters in New Delhi with an integrated manufacturing unit spread over 1,50,000 sq. m. in Sikandarabad, Greater Noida part II, Uttar Pradesh. It has an annual production capacity of around 216,000 TPA for steel production, over 18,000 TPA for HDPE pipes production, and 10,000 TPA for PVC pipes production. In a recent interaction with Mr. Radhey Shyam

Agarwal, Managing Director, Vishal Pipes Limited shared about the company's business journey, certifications, manufacturing facilities, product range, vast clientele and global market trends in the tubes and pipes industry.

Mr. Radhey Shyam Agarwal, Managing Director, Vishal Pipes Limited

TPI: Kindly share the business journey of Vishal Pipes, outlining the major milestones and achievements.

Radhey Shyam Agarwal: Vishal Pipes Limited was incorporated in 1988, with the core business of manufacturing GI pipes. Today, 38 years since its incorporation, Vishal Pipes has emerged as one of the leading manufacturers of steel and polymer products. We started our journey with value addition by establishing our first galvanizing unit in 1988, and gradually started steel tube manufacturing in 1990. With the intention to conquer the international market, we divulged into export in 2004. In 2007, we introduced our steel fabrication division along with the establishment of steel and PVC conduit pipes. The establishment of our second galvanizing unit was marked in 2010, introducing the deep well hand pump on our product list. As our company was mastering steel pipes production, we decided to venture into HDPE manufacturing in 2014. The year 2015 marked the introduction of powder coated GI pipes and steel bridge girders and structures for solar module mounting.

TPI: Please give us a brief walkthrough of the company's manufacturing facilities, infrastructure and machinery setup along with existing production capacity?

RSA: The organization has its headquarters in New Delhi with an integrated manufacturing unit spread over 1,50,000 sq. m. in Sikandarabad, Greater Noida part –II, Uttar Pradesh. All our units are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 18001 and CE/UL certified and equipped with state-ofthe-art plant and machinery, with quality control laboratory and equipment, PLC controlled CNC machines. Vishal Pipes has an annual production capacity of around 216,000 TPA for steel production, over 18,000 TPA for HDPE pipes production, and 10,000 TPA for PVC pipes production.

TPI: Please elaborate on the product range of Vishal Pipes, emphasizing on their features, applications and advantages.

RSA: Vishal Pipes is leading manufacturer of steel pipes, hollow sections, tubular poles for various applications likewater and sewage, non hazardous gas, air and steam, structural purposes, steel idlers, water wells and borings, electrical conduit, GI pipes powder coated for city gas distribution. All of these products are BIS approved and hold standards in compliance with requisite regulatory governing the norms. We also manufacture CORE approved - galvanized ERW steel tubes, counter weight guide tubes and many more steel and polymer products. In thisway,ourproductsaregraduallygainingthesatisfaction ofalargenumberofcustomers.

TPI: Kindly tell about the vast clientele of Vishal Pipes - both Indian and globally.

RSA: The presence of Vishal Pipes is visible throughout the country. Our major clientele are MNCs like Larsen & Toubro, ABB, Isolux Corsán, Alstom, General Electric, Siemens, Areva, Grupo Cobra and ETA Engineering.

“In the previous financial year, Vishal Pipes showcased a remarkable 30% increase in production, a rise of 25% is assured in the current year and an escalation of 75% in overall production capacity is inevitable considering the growth charts.”

Vishal Pipes also serves the Indian PSUs like IOCL, NTPC, Indian railways, BHEL, COAL India, IRCON International, CORE, PGCIL, GAIL and GSPC and state bodies like UP Jal Nigam, Public Welfare Department, RUIDP, UP Discoms, UP Agro, CIDCO, Maharashtra Gas, Indraprastha Gas and NDPL. Corporate companies catered are Kalpataru Power, KEC International, TATA projects, WAAREE Energies, Havells India, Torrent Power, Adani Power, Cimechel Electric, Reliance Infra and Crompton Greaves.

TPI: Kindly tell us about the growth and capacity expansion at Vishal Pipes. What according to you are the major USPs of Vishal Pipes contributing to the company's growth?

RSA: With latest cutting edge technology, innovation and machinery from the esteemed companies like Larsen and Toubro, Shapoorji Pallonji group; Vishal Pipes has a steep inclination towards expansion of the production capacity. In the previous financial year, Vishal Pipes showcased a remarkable 30% increase in production and a rise of 25% is assured in the current year. Also an escalation of 75% in overall production capacity is inevitable considering the growth charts. Vishal Pipes is a benchmark and renowned name in the field of

manufacturing and exporting pipes and steel structures. Our products rank the highest in quality and are recognized by many national and international standards. Our company has consistently maintained itself as a one stop solution for all kinds of pipes, steel pipes and tubes, steel poles, steel structures and polymer pipes. Adhering to the organizational core values of empathetic decision making, integrity, accommodating diversity, Vishal Pipes has benchmarked the entire product line and has achieved satisfaction of a large number of customers within India and globally.

TPI: Kindly shed some light on the current scenario, ongoing challenges and upcoming opportunities in the Indian and global tubes & pipes markets.

RSA: The global steel market size reached USD 907 billion in 2022. The international researchers expect the market to reach USD 1077 billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% during 2023-2028. Globally through 2026, demand for pipe products in the US is forecast to increase 2.2% per year to USD 57.9 billion, equivalent to 12.9 billion linear feet. Primarily the growth of the real estate industry has contributed positively towards demand for steel, PVC and HDPE pipes where requirements are steep. Furthermore, the sector has become more organized leading to focus on infrastructure and urbanization.

TPI: What is the company's vision, mission and strategy for growth in the future?

RSA: Vishal Pipes aims to continuously improve the quality of products, enhance productivity and introduce new products by utilizing the best practices in processes and technologies. Our mission is to accomplish our vision through decency, innovation, worldwide span, ethical values & business morals. This has positively contributed towards productivity of organization and welfare of society at large. Our long term growth plan aligns with our motto of “VISHAL”

“Vishal Pipes has an annual production capacity of around 216,000 TPA for steel production, with over 18,000 TPA for HDPE pipes production, and 10,000 TPA for PVC pipes production.”

Crippa Offers the Widest Range of Tube Processing Machines

Having a history over 70 years, the organization offering machines for bending and working metal tubes is regarded by the diverse range of its offerings. Their product range covers all types of requirements of the market, from the most traditional form of applications, to the most advanced machine learning integration. Crippa SpA is a group that offers the most comprehensive range of CNC tube bending machines, right and left tube bending machines, multistack and multiradius tube bending machines, full electric tube bending machines and integrating a variable radius into the bending process. Check out the company's product and service prowess through a glimpse into its catalog.

Crippa SpA, Italy, is a strong, cohesive industrial

group that combines the expertise of Crippa SRL and SMI SRL to provide complementary industrial solutions and respond to new production challenges, serving as an international point of reference in tube processing. The group has collaborated with Pradman Engineering Services Private Limited in India, to represent itintheregion.

The group's know-how has been brought together in a comprehensive catalog, designed to respond to every type of work. Their range of tube bending machines goes from 0.06" to 11" in diameter, while tube end forming solutions have a power range from 8 to 60 tons. Thanks to their Full Electric Technology, their tube bending machines can process complex bends with different radii and clamping. Their end forming machines are set up to manage different work stations, producing complex shapes and fitting different rotating heads. They know how to design and develop special machines for sector-specific processes and can build transfer systems to accommodate and guarantee the best cycle times with the highest reliability and repeatability, and high production volumes. The challenge has always been to offer all their clients a unique product, tailored and packaged to fit their needs. Just like a tailor wouldfitabespokesuit.

The product catalog enlists all the offerings of the group, sub-groupedintoseries,andservicegroups;

● SmallSeries

● DecoilingSeries

● CuttingSeries

● CleverSeries

● LinearSeries

● Up&DownSeries

● HeavySeries

● HeavyBWTSeries

● TSeries

● CoolSeries

● BasicSeries

● RapidSeries

● QuickSeries

● Heavy-SSeries

● MeasuringSystems

● WorkCells

● Utilities

The two machines most famed and in demand for the smart factory systems have been elaborated below on their key features,offerings,andUSPs.

942XE-LinearSeries

The 942XE is a CNC full-electric tube bending machine for tubes up to Ø 1,65''. Its bending head with direct transmission and a compact chassis ensures rigidity. The machine offers a high production rate and can produce bends with a CLR/DIA ratio of even less than 0.8. The 9 controlled axes that govern the machine are driven by absolute digital electric motors with Full Electric technology and controlled by a CNC Siemens 840D sl. Using the intuitive three-dimensional UII (User Iso Interface) programming software on a 19” LCD touch screen, the operator can interact with the machine to simulateandoptimizepartprograms.

Multistack and multi-radius can work with tools for variable radius thrust bending. Additionally, the 942XE can be equipped with busbar profile tooling to perform incycle plate and edge bending and twisting processes. It can be fitted with several tools simultaneously, with different bending radii and clamping. Its compact design also makes itpossibletofitthealreadyexistingtools.

This machine is designed to be integrated into Smart Factorysystems.

SILVER3CD-DecoilingSeries

SILVER 3 CD is an automatic cycle, multi-stack, multiradius, left and right-operated bending machine for tubes (Cu) up to 7/8'' in diameter with a standard-length arm of 1400 mm (customizable). It is one of the four models of the SILVER series, which is a subseries of the Decoiling Series product range. The machines in the SILVER series are used for bending materials fed directly from a coil without a mandrel. The 4 models differ in diameter capacities and technicalspecifications.

The SILVERS series can hold up to 7 electric brushless motors which control the advancement, bending, and rotation of the processing levels, and change in direction, optimizing the precision of the movements and reducing energy consumption. The separation of the bent piece from the material coming from the coil is done without producing chips at the orbital incision where the piece is detached, using a false bend. An additional cutting device like the saw blade unit can be integrated when required by the properties of the piece being produced or by request. The available options include a device for a quick changeover system for the rollers, drilling machine, laser marking unit, fixed or movable support tables, in-line shaping unit, and many others that make SILVER even more modular and customizable. The software interface is user-friendly and guides the operator in all machine setup phases. The machines are prepared for integration into “SmartFactory”systems.

The SILVER Series is well-known and spread around the world, maintaining over the years their recognized stability and robustness. At the same time, they developed themselves in terms of flexibility and versatility, following the new bending challenges of the market while keeping a watchfuleyeonthefuture.

The two pieces of machinery are only a glimpse into the entire production range of the Crippa Group. They, however, give an insight into the capabilities of the technology and services of the group. As the company gears itself to exhibit its prowess at the upcoming Tube & Pipe Fair in India, the various aspects of the company's product andservicescouldbeseenliveontheoccasion.

Tube & Pipe Fair, First Edition, is being organized by Tulip 3P Media on October 6-8, 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The Crippa Group shall exhibit at Stall O1-1.

Good Luck India Expanding Gujarat GI Mill, Targets INR 3,400 Crore Turnover

Good Luck India has a clear vision of their future,

which is attributable to its continuous innovation, R&D, and high-end engineering investments. The family-based company is run by a team of IITians, hence quality, efficiency, and commitment are permanently evident in their operations. In a recent interaction with Tube & Pipe India, Mr. Mahesh Chand Garg, Chairman & Managing Director of Good Luck India, shared the company's journey from catering to agricultural pipe demand in 1987 to supplying to automotive, EPC projects, public sector schemes and projects, and international market. He also shared the expansion plans for the Bhachau-based GI mill.

Mr. Mahesh Chand Garg, Chairman & Managing Director of Good Luck India

Tube & Pipe India: Your company has three identified operations; Good Luck India Limited, Good Luck Engineering Co, and Good Luck Industries. Please tell us about your vision behind segmentation, and what each of these operations are aimed at.

Mr. Mahesh Chand Garg: Good Luck India was incorporated in 1987 as a pipe manufacturing company. As of today, we have three operationsbased verticals, namely Good Luck India Limited, Good Luck Engineering Co, and Good Luck Industries. At the time we began our journey, there was a big demand for agricultural pipes, which is a very low technology item. Yet, based on our success in the sector, in 2007, we ventured into customized forging, which is a highly engineered product. Thereafter, in 2008, we started manufacturing specialized precision tubes for auto components, which we call CDW tubes.

During all our technological forays our vision was to fulfill our promise of value addition. It is our business tagline, we do not undertake expansion or volume enhancement, our focus is on value addition, and any expansion and volume addition is happenstance or collateral to it.

TPI: Please tell us about Good Luck's history, overview, major achievements, and crucial milestones.

MCG: The company was initially incorporated in 1987, following which the organization has undergone various enhancements. In 1995, we went public with our first IPO, and in 2005 we started following a structured division business model. In 2007, we started forging, and in 2008 we launched CDW tubes. In 2013, our CDW tubes division went under major expansion, in 2016 we expanded our structure division, and now in 2023, we are discussing a major expansion plan for CDW-2, which will be commissioned in the first quarter of the next year.

The expansion post-execution shall majorly cater to high-end technical

hydraulic tubing. It will enhance our current production capacity by nearly 60,000 TPA. The expansion will address the pent-up demand for the product in Europe, the USA, and India.

TPI: Please elaborate on your company's infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities, capacities, and machinery setup.

MCG: We have five units in NCR,

one undertakes forging operations, one caters to our pipe manufacturing division, and two units oversee the manufacturing of precision tubes. The last unit serves as our administrative office. We have one more unit in Bhachau, which is about 40 kilometers from Kandla, Gujarat. The site undertakes the manufacturing of GI pipes and tubes and caters primarily to our exports.

“ Last year, we achieved production of 317,000 tonnes and recorded a 20 percent YoY growth against 2,64,000 tonnes of production.”

Our average production capacity is 340,000 TPA. Last year, we achieved production of 317,000 tonnes and recorded a 20 percent YoY growth against 264,000 tonnes of production. This year, we have already achieved 87 percent of last year's production, and we are aiming for annual production of 380,000 tonnes.

TPI: Can you elaborate on Good Luck's product portfolio and its applications?

MCG: We are traditionally a tubes and pipes manufacturing company. Pipes and tubes are generally considered as low-valued items, however, they are used to transport and distribute liquids, such as water and gas, one of which forms twothirds of our planet. The applications of tubes and pipes are wide, and hence our products enjoy a wide market scope as well. Moreover, we do not manufacture only simple tubes and pipes, but we make specialized, and customized pipes using high-end engineering.

Our product range includes ERW galvanized pipes, black and painted pipes, rectangle and square pipes, CR coils and sheets, CDW tubes, forgings, fabricated steel structures, and electrical conduits. We also make roofing sheets, used in housing construction, customized pipes for buses' steel structures, and precision tubes. We make towers and substations, which widens the scope of our customers and product applications.

TPI: What is Good Luck's USP that ensures you stay ahead of other players in the market?

MCG: Our USP lies in focusing on value addition through high-end engineering. Good Luck India is a group run by IITians, with me, my son, and my nephew being some of the participating engineering professionals. Engineering is incomplete without innovation, which in turn requires research and development investments, and we undertake all these to ensure better solutions for our clients. Furthermore, we manufacture according to our customer's specifications, that is our production is customized to purchase orders, rather than warehouse upkeep. We make for classes, not masses, and it is one of our specialties. We follow three parameters, quality, consistency, and commitment, at all our manufacturing facilities. These qualitative features are behind our quantitative successes, as our clients are highly satisfied and keep collaborating with us. These attributes help us achieve great turnover volumes.

TPI: What are the recent developments that Good Luck has invested in?

MCG: There are simply many, as we are continuously involved with innovation and R&D. Hence, developments are routine for us, and while I have so much to share, the sensitivity of certain developments and their operational stages limit me. However, there are certain which I can easily share.

We have received an order from Larson & Toubro to manufacture railway bridges structure for the Japanese bullet train. The project is already under operation and delivery has also begun. Our Bhachau site is fabricating the order under the strict supervision of L&T and the Japanese team.

We have also received approval from Schlumberger USA for the customized flange forging of specialized steel, which is exotic material. We also have bagged a good order, whose execution shall begin by this month. This order will prove a huge game changer for Good Luck

India and will help us achieve our turnover targets as well.

TPI: Please shed light on your market footprint and your major clientele.

MCG: Since 1992, our focus has been heavily invested in exports, and our annual share averages 25-30 percent of our overall production. This share helps us maintain a positive net foreign exchange, with minimal imports. We export the whole of our product portfolio, with applications in various sectors like auto tubing, water tubing, precision tubing, fabricated steel structures, heavy infrastructure steel structures, etc.

Last year our export turnover was INR 970 crores, and before that, it accounted for 1,050 crores. We export to over 100 countries, including European and US markets. In India, all the major automotive companies, government departments like BHEL and Powergrid, and major groups like L&T, Tata, and Reliance, are included among our repeat clients.

TPI: Please share your company's future plans.

MCG: Our future plans are clear and with the support of my extremely dedicated team, I am sure we will achieve all our plans. We are planning an expansion for the Bhachau-based GI mill, which will be a state-of-the-art grade of expansion. Additionally, we are targeting a turnover of INR 3,400 crores in the next year, which I believe we will exceed if the mill becomes operational before the end of the year.

Lastly, as I mentioned previously, R&D, innovation, and new developments are routine for Good Luck India, hence, our future is always under construction.

“Our USP lies in focusing on value addition through high-end engineering. We make for classes, not masses, and it is one of our specialties.”

“Our annual export share averages 2530 percent of our overall production.”

Shah Foils: Excellence in Stainless Steel, Precision that Ensures Perfection

Established in 2001, Shah

Mr. Kartik Shah, Director, Shah Foils Limited

Foils Limited is one of the largest manufacturers of cold rolled stainless steel coils and strips. Having an annual installed capacity of 75,000 TPA, the company has 20-Hi, 12-Hi and 4-Hi rolling mills, bright annealing, and slitter machines upgraded with the best technology to work at high-speed production. The company recently expanded into the Special Product Division,with an annual production capacity of 12,000 MT of precision stainless steel strips and in the near future is planning to set up TLR (Tension Leveller Line) to cater the growing demand of industrial customers. In a recent conversation with Tube & Pipe India, Mr. Kartik Shah, Director, Shah Foils Limited spoke about the company's journey, manufacturing capabilities and product portfolio, recent developments at Shah Foils and his views on the future of the tube & pipe industry.

Tube & Pipe India: Could you please give us a brief outline of the business journey of your company along with its crucial milestones?

Kartik Shah: Shah Foils Limited was established in the year 2001, for the manufacturing and export of cold rolled stainless steel coils, strips and circles. Located at Santej, Kalol, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the company is swiftly leaping towards growth. Today, Shah Foils Limited is a forerunner and one of the largest manufacturers of cold rolled stainless steel coils and strips with an annual installed capacity of 75000 TPA. Shah Foils' modern infrastructure and welltrained team have proven to be strong foundations for the company.

TPI: Kindly cast some light on the manufacturing capabilities and machinery installed at your facility.

KS: At Shah Foils, we implement cold rolling of stainless-steel precision strips, precise slitting to finish size. We have 20-Hi, 12-Hi and 4-Hi rolling mills, bright annealing, and slitter machines equipped and upgraded with the best technology to work at high-speed production. We have well equipped machines backed by a team of professionals and technicians. With customer satisfaction as the ultimate goal, every requirement is met carefully considering the quality, time and place of delivery.

TPI: Tell us about your product portfolio and market footprint.

KS: Shah Foils is a leading producer of cold rolled precision stainless steel strips in grades of 200-series, 300series and 400-series, manufactured as per ASTM, ASME, EN, JIS and other international standards. The thickness ranges from 0.08 mm to 3 mm and the width ranges from 3 mm to 620 mm. Our products' surface finish are of types BA-soft and hard (1/4 hard, ½ hard, ¾ hard, full hard) and they possess edge conditions of types mill edge, slit edge, deburred edge, deburred and round edge.

The segments we are catering to are auto industry, industrial segment,

electronic industry, electrical Industry, consumer durables and lifestyle products. We are supplying our products domestically, in the northern, southern and western regions of India, as well as in the international market, with a good market presence in Europe and the US.

TPI: Share your outlook on the tube and pipe industry. How do you see the market evolving in the future?

KS: The domestic demand for stainless steel was at 4 million tonnes in fiscal year 2021-2022, according to Crisil ratings. Furthermore, the demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9% till FY 2024-25, which is double the 4.5% pace of the past five fiscals. The private and public investments in infrastructure, as well as residential housing, are likely to provide a boost to the stainless-steel tubes and pipes demand. Stainless steel is an important material in industrial applications such as building and construction,

infrastructure, railways, automotive and transportation, and process industries. Additionally, stainless steel has a unique edge over carbon steel as it has a combination of properties such as pliability, strength, corrosion resistance, aesthetic properties, low maintenance cost, and average product life cycle. These properties, along with increasing penetration in numerous applications, is anticipated to drive the market growth.

TPI: What are the recent developments at your company? Also, what are your future plans?

KS: Shah Foils has recently stepped into the field of special product division (industrial and auto/ cold rolled precision stainless steel) with an annual production capacity of 12,000 TPA. This division is a move to further diversify the company's product portfolio and serve a larger customer base. The special product division is equipped with the specialized state of the art 20-Hi cold rolling mill with IMR shifting, AGC

“We are supplying our products domestically, in the northern, southern and western regions of India, as well as in the international market, with a good market presence in Europe and the US.”

enabling, mill tilting and shape meter, enabling higher degree of shape and profile correction.

In the near future we are planning to set up TLR (Tension Leveller Line) to cater the growing demand of our industrial customer. Together with our advanced machines and

professional team of technicians, we are capable of delivering products that meet international quality standards at the most competitive prices.

TPI: Moving forward, what is your vision for Shah Foils for further growth?

KS: Moving forward, we aim to be

The domestic demand for stainless steel was at 4 million tonnes in fiscal year 2021-2022, according to Crisil ratings. Furthermore, the demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9% till FY 2024-25, which is double the 4.5% pace of the past five fiscals.

competitive in the market. We always focus on the best technology and all our machines have been made or adopted to keep our customer's quality process. We believe that today we are one of the preferred choices of our business partner to major OEMs, not only in India but across the globe as well.

Welspun's Associate Firm EPIC Signs Large Diameter Steel Pipes Contract With Saudi Aramco Worth INR 4,000 Crore

Welspun Corp Limited's associate company, East Pipes Integrated Company for Industry (EPIC) signed a contract of large diameter steel pipes supply with Saudi Aramco for a total value of nearly INR 4,000 crore. This recent order represents the major share of the first package of the Master Gas - Phase 3 project.

May 24, 2023

East Pipes Integrated Company for Industry (EPIC),

Welspun Corp Limited's associate company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), has recently signed a large diameter steel pipes supply contract with Saudi Aramco for a total value exceeding approximately INR 4,000 crore (SAR 1.8 billion) inclusive of value added tax. This recent order by Saudi Aramco is one of the single largest orders for EPIC, representing the major share of the first package of the Master Gas - Phase 3 project.

As per Welspun, the strategic project involves Saudi Arabia's attempt to convert a number of power plants from oil to natural gas. Saudi Aramco is extending the existing Master Gas System (MGS) to the Western

Province in order to supply the power plants located there. MGS' development and expansion will accelerate the drive towards a cleaner energy mix, helping to reach the net-zero emission goal set by the country.

DPL Global Private Limited Piping its Dream of INR 400 Crore

Inaugurated in 2008, DPL Star is the

brand name of DPL Global Private Limited which became functional in 2019, with the start of its own tube mill in Sikandrabad, Uttar Pradesh, to manufacture square, rectangle pipes and round pipes. The company gradually evolved and today, DPL Global's factory consists of two tube mills and a fully in-house state of the art facility for quality testing. As of their recent development, the company is preparing to establish a third tube mill, with a goal to double its production capacity from 5000 - 6000 metric tons per month to 12,000 - 14,000 metric tons per month. In a recent interview with Tube & Pipe India, Mr. Shivam Agarwal, Director, DPL Global Private Limited shared his company's business journey, recent and upcoming developments, clientele and segments catered, and future plans.

Mr. Shivam Agarwal, Director, DPL Global Private Limited

Tube & Pipe India: Kindly share the business journey of DPL Star, along with the product portfolio and USP.

Shivam Agarwal: DPL Star is the brand name of DPL Global Private Limited which was inaugurated in the year 2008, and became functional in 2019 with the establishment of a tube mill which manufactures square, rectangle and round pipes ranging from 65mm to 175mm, in thickness ranging from 1.6mm to 12mm. As we gradually progressed, we installed another tube mill, for production of tubes with diameter ranging from 15mm to 65 mm to enhance our product range. Currently, we are manufacturing sizes ranging from 25x25mm to 150x150mm in square pipes and 25mmx50mm to 200mmx150mm in rectangular pipes. In today's gray market of steel tubes and steel pipes, specifically for square and rectangle, many businesses choose to manufacture their pipes from Patra, which reduces the production and product cost. However, our USP at DPL Global is that we do not compromise with quality while manufacturing our products, as we believe in quality over cost.

TPI: Could you walk us through the company's manufacturing facilities, infrastructure and machinery setup along with production capacity?

SA: Our plant is situated in Sikandrabad, Bulandshahar district, Uttar Pradesh, spread over an area of around 35,000 square meters. Including the upcoming mill, the plant now consists of three tube mills and a full in-house state of the art facility for quality testing, with all the machines in compliance with BIS standards. Additionally, we have a separate area for raw material stacking, where we hold the capacity to stock raw material of around 3000 metric tons at one time, and stock the finished pipes, in both customized length or in standard lengths, of around 10,000 to 12,000 metric tons.

TPI: Please tell us about DPL Global's clientele and the

segments that the company caters to.

SA: We majorly sell our products into the trade, along with some OEM projects. Major companies like GA Infra, PNC Infratech Limited, L&T, Ion Exchange, NKG Infrastructure, Vasu Infratech, and JMC are utilizing our products. In order to cater to our clients, we procure raw material from Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and through an annual MoU with the Steel Authority of India (SAIL). We are supplying our steel square pipes as well as round pipes to the EV sector, majorly in two wheeler or three wheeler chassis manufacturing companies. Moreover, we are supplying products in various government projects like NTPC, BHEL, Airport Authority Of India, DMRC and many more.

TPI: Can you shed some light on the recent or upcoming developments at your company?

SA: To increase our turnover and cater to the larger sizes of square sectional pipes, we are installing a new tube mill manufacturing sizes ranging from 300mm to 400mm of round and square pipes. The sizes will range from 180mmx180mm to 250mmx250mm in the square section and 200mmx150mm to 250mmx150mm in the rectangular

pipes. Currently, with the two functional mills we are at a manufacturing capacity of around 5000 to 6000 metric tons per month. After the installation of the new mill, our capacity would double and reach around 12,000 to 14,000 metric tons per month. In order to achieve this, we are signing MoUs with multiple companies for the procurement of raw materials from high quality sources. The trade segment is very competitive in today's situation, with a lot of competition in price, procurement of raw materials and availability of sizes. Our company is trying to increase production, to achieve economies of scale, as well as to boost our sales of major sizes in the market. The larger diameter pipes being manufactured on the new tube mill would be ready by August 2023, while the 406mm pipes would take another 5 to 6 months more. Therefore, all production in the new mill is expected to start by the end of 2023.

TPI: Kindly provide your insights on the current scenario and trends in the Indian tubes and pipes market.

SA: In India, steel requirement is increasing day by day, creating further scope in our country for the consumption of steel. Around 150

million tons of steel is consumed on a monthly basis in India, and this number is increasing day by day as the country's development is only proportional to the infrastructure, that is proportional to the consumption of steel.

For constructions of bridges or other heavy structures, heavy sizes of square and rectangle pipes are

used, major sizes used being 250mm x 250mm, 250mm x 150mm. Another new trend is of prefab structures, where instead of going for wooden structures or concrete cemented structures, people are now moving to prefab designs that are manufactured offsite and shipped later to assemble at the final location. A major segment where this is being used is in tourist

attractions, like Uttarakhand and Shimla, where hotels and resorts are made from prefab structures. Since they are on a hilly area, we need to utilize a more strengthened material than just concrete or cement. Thus, heavy structures like 250mmx250mm square sectional pipe or 200mmx150mm rectangular sectional pipes are used for the installation of those resorts or hotels.

TPI: What are the company's long term and short term plans for growth in the future?

SA: We have been manufacturing from 2019, with a closing turnover of INR 225 crore last year.This year, we are aiming to close around INR 400 crore. As the name “DPL Global” suggests, we aim to make the company go global and cater the global market. Therefore, in the coming days, we aim to take our company overseas and cater to international markets because there is also huge potential in Middle East areas. We are planning to begin our overseas expansion post the establishment of the third mill, because the pipes set to be produced in the third mill are in large demand in our target regions for export.

Maharashtra Seamless Wins Order Worth

INR 262 Crore from ONGC

Maharashtra Seamless recently received orders from state-owned company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited for supply of seamless tubing pipes and accessories, worth approximately INR 262 crore. The order will be delivered to multiple locations in Gujarat, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tripura and Assam.

Apr 24, 2023

Seamless steel pipes and tubes manufacturer

Maharashtra Seamless Limited, a flagship company of the D.P. Jindal group, recently announced it has bagged an order worth nearly INR 262 crore from state-owned company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited, for the supply of seamless tubing pipes as well as accessories. The order is set to be delivered to various locations in the five states of Gujarat, West

Bengal, Rajasthan, Tripura and Assam. The company states that the order will be executed in a period of nearly 10 months, through gradual dispatch to the various locations.

Superiority of HDPE Pipes in Hilly Areas of Himachal Pradesh

This case study deals with the water management

project for agriculture at 'Balh valley On-demand (24x7 system) Irrigation Project' Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India completed on turnkey basis including SCADA system implemented for a command area of 2355 ha. Himachal Pradesh is northern-western ranges of Himalaya, at elevation 350 m to 7000 m above MSL. Topography consists of hilly and valley terrain and so for any person it is very difficult to walk without help of a stick. Agriculture land holding is very small and before

implementation of this project the entire agriculture was dependent on rain water only. During the summer season there is no availability of water for agriculture although waterisavailableduringtherainyseason.

The Balh valley area is spread over 101 sq. km in Mandi district. The source of income for the farmer is only agriculture. For many years the Government of Himachal Pradesh made efforts to construct a canal for irrigation purposes, but was not successful because of undulated terrain and soft soil. The Government of Himachal Pradesh

Dr Madhusudan D. CHAUDHARI, Senior Vice President: Projects & Business Development Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA

has taken initiative and made water available at the doors of farms by using HDPE pipes. In this paper, a case study cum salient feature of said project is highlighted and will act as a proven example where water can be made reachable at difficult terrain also for the welfare of agricultural communitybyusingHDPEpipes.

ConceptofProject

In this project various sizes of HDPE pipes (900 mm to 110 mm) & various pressure ratings of HDPE pipes, PN 4 to PN 25 (length @ 300 km) are used to deliver the water at each farm outlet point. This project was initiated in Jan 2008, water was lifted from the hydel canal and transported at various places. Water storage tanks were constructed at various places mostly at higher elevation. Taking the advantage of available terrain slope, the irrigation water is further transported to various farms by gravity.

The Balh valley on-demand irrigation project in its initial phase was planned using open channels (also called as surface gravity canal) as the main water conveyance. But considering hilly terrain the cost of cutting hills for maintaining gravity level required for channels was enormous. Also acquisition of farm-land from individual farmers for construction of open canal / channels was the main & biggest hindrance that was stopping the efforts initiated by Government of Himachal Pradesh at many levels. Hence an integrated solution is provided by Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd company by proposing underground installed pressurized network of HDPE pipes and fittings for conveyance of irrigation water. With the help of automation (SCADA system) the irrigation water is delivered to each farm-outlet to cater the irrigation needs of farmersinBalhvalleyarea.

This project is included under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programmed (AIBP) of Government of INDIA. Under the scope of this Project, it is proposed to cover 2355 hectare CCA (Cultural Command Area) by the conjunctive use of surface (hydel canal) and groundwater (tube well water). The total water requirement of the Project is 37.08 cusecs.

The underground HDPE pumping main has been designed in such a way that it will always remain under pressure all the time and the lifted water is stored in tanks constructed atcorrespondingliftpumphouseinrespectivelocalityfrom where by pumping the water is taken to the distribution chamber, constructed at the highest point of the command area from where the irrigation-water is supplied to its respective command area by gravity as and as per the demand of farmers. This project has been entirely automated using the SCADA system, hence as per the water demand generated at farmer level, the water is lifted from the intake hydel canal (at head works), and the demand is fulfilled without any delay. This on-demand irrigation system is fulfilling and ensures the demand of farmers roundtheclock.

FeaturesofProject

Considering the long life (100+ years) of HDPE pipes and advantages as easy & fast installation at difficult terrain, no leakages & no wastage of water, withstand to sub-zero temperature, no repair & no maintenance cost, no replacement cost, low capex & low opex as compared to metal pipe or concrete pipes, the HDPE has been proposed, designed,installedandworkingsuccessfully.

Witness of flexibility of HDPE pipes

● The project is completed in stipulated period, because of unique properties of HDPE pipes & fittings, like light weight, flexibility of pipes, easy handling, and fast installation.

● The on-demand irrigation system has been functioning perfectlyforthelast11years,duetoperfectinstallation& useofHDPEleak-proofpipes&fittings.

● Earlier Government departments used to convey water through open canals, where @ 60% water just lost throughevaporation,percolation&seepage.

● Another issue of theft of water and breakages of the canal, which was very difficult to monitor and control. BecauseofHDPEpipesallthoseissueshavebeensolved.

● On-demand fully automatic integrated irrigation system (using SCADA system) provides assured water for the agricultureneedsasandwhenrequired(24x7system).

● Leak proof joints of HDPE pipes ensured ZERO leakages, thereby resulting in optimum utilization of availablewater.

● The area of Balh Valley (Himalayan region) is susceptible for earthquake vibrations and movements, wherein HDPE pipes can easily sustain the earthquake movements because of inherent stainability available within HDPE pipes and joints. Hence, HDPE as material of construction avoids post-earthquake damages & postearthquakeserviceisverymuchguaranteed.

● For construction of open channels carrying of civil construction material (cement, sand, steel, aggregates, boulders, brick, water etc) at an altitude of 4000 feet in hilly terrain is very expensive and time consuming hence use of light weight-flexible HDPE pipes solved all the problems.

● In the past, the Government department used to convey water for such irrigation projects through open channels,where it is necessitated purchasing the desired strip of land for construction of open channels, whilst HDPE pipe installation is underground hence there is no need to purchase land for laying the underground pipelines.

● Smaller trench size is required for installation of HDPE pipes hence natural compaction of soil is maintained using HDPE pipe. This reduces the cost of excavation andsoildisplacements.

● Managing on site demand for change in layout of HDPE pipes raised because of immediate constructional requirements is also possible using on-site fabricated HDPEfittings.

Advantages ofLarge DiameterHDPE Pipes as a PumpingMain

The project clearly demonstrates the inherent benefits and easy adaptability of HDPE pipes to adverse geo-climatic conditions. This can help engineers all over the world in selectingthebestpipingmaterialforrisingmains.

✔ HDPE pipes and joints resist forces generated as a result of earthquakes, landslides, soil-movements (typically observedinblack-cottonsoil).

✔ HDPE pipe is lightweight facilitating manual transportation of 6m pipe length and pipes in coil form onhillslopesbesideseasymaneuverability.

✔ HDPE pipe has a longer service life span of more than 100 years especially under varied hostile geo-climatic environmentalconditions.

✔ HDPE pipe is lighter in weight, needs less time for transportation and installation, ultimately reduces the overallprojecttimeandcost.

✔ Availability of local labor for efficient transportation of pipes and equipments in hilly regions is a major problem, and the use of lightweight HDPE pipe results insavingsincostoflabor.

✔ For HDPE pipe no coating/lining is required, which ultimately results in reduced operational overheads (short,mediumandlongterm).

The above affirmative and positive results from this project paved the way for the installation of larger diameter pipelines in the most difficult and hostile hilly terrain in any corner of the world. Engineers worldwide can aid and assist users worldwide by sharing the project success.

The Balh Valley on-demand irrigation project involving installation of large diameter HDPE pipes up to 900mm OD pipes as pumping main under adverse conditions is an unique project. Many infrastructure industries worldwide will be benefited by sharing the project adventures and challenges, which helps them to identify issues and obstacles long before they become a problem while executing similar projects, and refrain its users from blindly following the old methods, traditional materials of constructionfortheirpipingneeds.

Conclusions

It has been noted from the success of the project and after 11 years of operation and maintenance period, that this project is truly exceptional in registering the sustainable pioneer endeavors undertaken by Jain Irrigation Systems Limited. This effort was through the medium of HDPE pipe as a primary material of construction for rising (pumping) main, which is extremely comfortable under hostile (heavy rains/cold) weathering conditions, as well as under undauntedgeographicallifeinthatarea.

The use of HDPE pipes & fittings for using in on-demand irrigation projects as pumping main over traditional use of open channel above-ground conveyance of water, where the losses of precious and depleting water resources is totally eliminated and this can facilitate engineers all over the world in justifying the deserving candidate for a special mention.

WIDE RANGE OF PIPES

• Line Pipes

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• Large Diameter Pipes

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• Low Well Thickness General

• Engineering Pipes

OUR BRANCHES

Mumbal Office:

211-213, Navratan Building, 69, P.D. Mello Road, Carnac Bunder, Mubai-400009. Maharashtra-india

Ph. +91 22 23488554 | Fax +91 22 23486356

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Lalbaba Seamless Tubes' Recent Developments: Udaan & New Stainless Steel Division

Chief Operating Officer of

Seamless Tubes, has been heading the operations at Lalbaba

Seamless Tubes for more than 5 years now and under his able leadership, the company has become one of the leading suppliers in the cold drawn seamless segments to various industries, as well as establishing the company as a reliable supplier with foreign clients. The company has also forayed into the stainless steel segment under his guidance. In an interaction with Tube & Pipe India, he shares Lalbaba Seamless Tubes' journey, technology and business roadmap, recent developments, and future plans.

Mr. Nikunj Dhanuka, Director and

Lalbaba

Mr. Nikunj Dhanuka, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Lalbaba Seamless Tubes

Tube & Pipe India: Could you please give us a brief outline of the business journey of your company along with its crucial milestones?

Mr. Nikunj Dhanuka: What started as a microenterprise in 1964 with a small pneumatic forging and fabrication unit in Howrah, went on to become a leading and preferred supplier to the Indian Railways as well as other OEMs. Lalbaba Engineering Group has a global presence in more than 20 countries, and the name is synonymouswithqualityandreliability.

Lalbaba first offered air brake pipes in 1991, and has been the leading supplier of air- brake pipes to the wagon industry. Our dominance in this sector is evident, with an estimated market share of nearly 60 percent. This accomplishment exemplifies our deep industry expertise andthetrustourcustomersplaceinourproducts.

Lalbaba Seamless Tubes, our flagship unit, was established inHaldia,WestBengal,in2009.Initiallyfocused oncarbon alloy steel seamless pipes, we expanded our portfolio in 2021 to include stainless steel seamless pipes and tubes. This strategic decision has catapulted us to become the largest producer of cold-drawn seamless tubes in India, with an installed capacity of 72000MT or 50,000 kms per annum. Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and cutting-edge technology have played a pivotal role in our success.

Drivenbyanunwaveringpursuitofperfection,wehavealso ventured into the world of engineering, leading to the establishment of three manufacturing plants equipped with some of the finest facilities in eastern and western India. These plants include Lalbaba Seamless Tubes Private Limited in Haldia and Ahmednagar, Lalbaba Industrial Corporation Private Limited in Uluberia, and PEWEngineeringPrivateLimitedinHowrah.

TPI: Please share details about your product portfolio, including its key strengths and applications?

ND: Our product portfolio consists of cold drawn seamless tubes & pipes, which are utilized in a wide range of applications such as heat exchangers, boilers, oil & gas industry, automobiles, bearings, hydraulic cylinders, mechanicaltubing,mining,andprecisiontubes.

Ourproductbasket'skeystrengthsinclude:

● Achieving precise wall thickness and diameter measurements

● Exceptionalsurfacefinish

● Highdurability

● Superiormechanicalproperties

● Particularly suitable for critical forming processes like 1DBends

● Bright annealed pipes for select customers in India & abroad

TPI: Could you shed some light on your company's market footprint and clientele, as well as any expansion plans?

With a total installed output capacity of 72,000 metric tons per year, we operate a mother plant consisting of five bays, a semiautomated Udaan plant, and PEW engineering for railway products.

ND: Lalbaba Seamless (LBST) is a prominent worldwide manufacturer of cold drawn seamless steel pipe products, boasting a strong track record and extensive industry connections. The company offers a diverse range of products, including carbon alloy seamless & stainless pipes andtubes.

LBST operates multiple manufacturing facilities throughout India and caters to various sectors. Its products are widely utilized in oil and gas exploration and transportation, power generation, water supply for drinking, drainage, irrigation, automotive industry, mining, and other industrial applications. The company's esteemed clientele comprises renowned global oil and gas producers such as IOCL, Reliance, BPCL, Haldia Petrochemicals, both government and private entities, as well as notable engineering and procurement firms like L&T Hydrocarbon, Toyo, Technip, Tata Projects, and Megha. Additionally, LBST serves the power sector, collaborating with esteemed companies like BHEL, GE, L&T Mhps, ISGEC, Thermax, Thyssenkrupp, among others.

With the eventual goal of becoming the largest cold drawn seamless tube manufacturer in the world, LBST continues to expand its presence by establishing facilities in close proximity to major markets in the automobile, hydraulic, and hydrocarbon sectors. LSBT believes that the seamless tube market has been restricted due to lack of options, and with the changing global landscape, customers are looking atnearshoringtheircriticalvendors.

TPI: What is your perspective on the future of the tube and pipe industry? How do you anticipate the market evolving?

ND: LBST's primary objective is to provide value to its customers and stakeholders through the delivery of highquality products. The company plays a crucial role in the global supply chain by leveraging information technology anditsstrongmanagementcapabilities.

Based on the April 2022 report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), it is anticipated that Asia region will continue to experience robust GDP growth of 5.3 percent in 2023, thus it is expected that the demand will continue to be robustinthepipesegmentaswell.

While the Indian economy is gradually recovering from the contraction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still risks associated with the ongoing pandemic and geopolitical tensions, particularly with the Russia-Ukraine

conflict. These factors contribute to an uncertain future for the economy. However, despite the challenges, India has the potential to become one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. Positive business conditions, robust industrial output, and healthy export growth are expected to drive India's GDP growth in 2023-24, which is forecast byRBI@6.5percent.

LBST operates with a well-diversified business model, strategically located in different markets and serving various industries and customers. This approach helps mitigate risks and enables the company to perform well even in challenging economic and geopolitical situations. The company maintains a balanced presence in both domestic and export markets and operates through four strategicbusinessunits.

Asforthefutureofthetubeandpipeindustry,itisaproduct that finds application in every walk of life, from water lines to sanitation, oil and gas to renewables, automotive – both ICE and EV, the list is endless. As such the industry will continue to grow rapidly. However, I strongly believe that fast growing economies like India will start to migrate more towards seamless pipes and tubes instead of welded as safety and life cycle costs become a bigger factor, similar to western economies and also China. It is our goal to be at the forefrontofthischange.

TPI: Could you outline your technology and business roadmap?

ND: At LBST, we have a clear technology and business roadmap in place to guide our growth and development. Our focus is on leveraging advanced technologies and industry best practices to enhance our manufacturing processes and deliver high-quality products to our customers.

In terms of technology, we continually invest in state-ofthe-art machinery and equipment to ensure efficient production and maintain our competitive edge. We stay

updated with the latest advancements in tube manufacturing technology and strive to incorporate them into our operations. By embracing innovative techniques and automation, we aim to enhance productivity, improve productquality,andoptimizeresourceutilization.

Furthermore, we emphasize research and development to foster innovation within our organization. Our dedicated team of engineers and experts consistently work on developing new products, improving existing ones, and exploring new applications for our tubes. This enables us to stay at the forefront of industry trends and cater to the evolvingneedsofourcustomers.

On the business front, our roadmap focuses on strategic expansion and diversification. We aim to strengthen our presence in existing markets while actively exploring new market opportunities. By expanding our geographical reach and customer base, we aim to drive growth and increaseourmarketshare.

Additionally, we are committed to building strong partnerships and collaborations with key stakeholders across the supply chain. This includes working closely with our suppliers, distributors, and customers to foster mutually beneficial relationships and ensure seamless operations.

Overall, our technology and business roadmap aligns with our vision of being a leading global player in the seamless tubes industry. Through continuous innovation, strategic expansion,andstrongpartnerships,weareconfidentinour ability to achieve long-term success and deliver value to our customers.

TPI: Could you please elaborate on the infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities, and machinery installed at your facility?

ND: Lalbaba Seamless Tubes Private Limited, a subsidiary of Lalbaba Engineering, is a prominent manufacturer of cold drawn seamless tubes and pipes. Our facility has a comprehensive infrastructure spread across more than 16 acres, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery. With a total installed output capacity of 72,000 metric tons per year, we operate a mother plant consisting of five bays, a semi-automated Udaan plant, and PEW engineering for railway products. Our presence extends throughout Eastern and Western India, serving various industries such as railways, oil & gas, automobiles, hydraulics, boilers, and powerplants.

In terms of equipment, we have five piercing mills, three STPplants,multipledrawbenches,andpilgermachines,all of which enable us to meet the requirement of our customers. We operate round-the-clock with over 1200 employees and have both LPG and electric reheating furnaces, as well as annealing, solution annealing, and brightannealingfurnacesforheattreatmentpurposes.

At LBST, we prioritize quality and strive to maintain a reputation for delivering seamless tubes of exceptional qualityatcompetitiveprices.Toachievethis,weemploythe

latest technologies, highly trained personnel, and ample resources. Our testing facilities include advanced equipment such as a spectrometer for chemical analysis, brinell hardness tester, universal tensile testing machine, hydra tester, ECT, and ultrasonic testing. Moreover, our labs are NNDL accredited, ensuring the highest standards andproductexcellence.

We manufacture a wide range of grades to cater to different requirements. For carbon steel, we produce grades such as MS1010, MS1018, T5, T11, ST52, and more. Additionally, we manufacture stainless steel grades including SS304, SS304L,SS316,SS316L,andSS316T.

PEW Engineering, an integral part of the Lalbaba Engineering Group, operates manufacturing facilities in Howrah and Haldia. It specializes in producing essential components for air brake systems, such as slack adjuster type IRSA600 and IRSA750, air brake pipes, and double ferrule fittings. We also undertake retrofitting and furnishing projects, with a newly formed vertical dedicated to interior refurbishment and alterations in passenger coaches. Our facility is equipped with numerous CNC machines, making us one of the leading suppliers of components in the industry. We have a strong presence in the export of railway components, serving esteemed customers such as Tanzania Railways, Ghana Railways, Uganda Railways, Royal Cambodia Railways, Myanmar Railways, and CRRC Group in China. Quality assurance is a top priority, and all critical components and assemblies undergo rigorous testing in our NNDL accredited labs.

TPI: What recent developments have taken place at your company?

ND: In our company, we have recently made significant investments towards achieving our ambitious growth plans forthefuture.

In 2022, we successfully established a new semi-automated plant called Udaan, which has been operating at full capacity. This plant utilizes cutting-edge technologies and advanced manufacturing processes to produce a monthly output of 1800 metric tons of carbon steel seamless pipes. Our objective in establishing this plant was to reduce manual intervention and ensure the delivery of top-quality products to our customers. Udaan operates as a high-end Continuous Drawing System (CDS) automated plant, offering online facilities with a lead time of 10 hours, with upto70%reductioninmanufacturingleadtime.

In response to growing environmental concerns, we have installed an electric induction furnace for billet heating in our new Stainless Steel (SS) bay. This furnace operates with zero carbon emissions, making a positive impact on the environment. The new SS bay allows us to supply 6000 metric tons of SS tubes annually, further reinforcing our commitmenttosustainablepractices.

To foster skill development and enhance industry knowledge among our newly hired employees, we have introduced a comprehensive learning and training

program named Gurukul. This program spanning over three months, combines two months of classroom training and one month of on-the-job training under the guidance of industry experts. Gurukul covers 12 subjects in detail, equipping participants with essential knowledge and job skills. Through interactive sessions and engaging activities, Gurukul provides a memorable learning experience for our employees.

TPI: Please tell us about your future plans.

ND: Our future vision revolves around establishing a remarkable presence in the seamless industry and expandingouroperations.

We also aim to focus on the production of SS seamless tubes, targeting a production capacity of 12000 metric tons per annum. To achieve this, we plan to invest in improved machinery and enhance the skillset of our personnel. The ongoing process includes the installation of two new parallel piercing machines with modern technology, as well as additional pilger machines, draw benches, a bright annealing furnace, and an online solution annealing furnace. These upgrades will enable us to meet our desired production targets while ensuring the quality of our SS tubesthroughimprovedtestingfacilities.Theuseofelectric induction furnace, will also make the production process moreenvironmentfriendly.

Building on our expertise in the rail freight industry, we are aiming to expand globally in the near future. We have already developed a single arm freight pantograph capable of speeds up to 130 km/hr and are currently working on developing dedicated passenger pantographs with a speed potential of up to 250 km/hr. Additionally, we are focusing on manufacturing high reach pantographs for the movement of double stack container trains on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) of Indian Railways. Our plans also involve manufacturing various types of couplers, including MCA-DA couplers, locomotive couplers, alliance couplers,andslackadjuster.

We are in the process of operationalizing a newly acquired Nagar Plant in Pune. This division of LBST will specifically focus on the production of small-diameter tubes, and cateringtoourcustomersinthewesternregion.

Apr-May 2023

I strongly believe that fast growing economies like India will start to migrate more towards seamless pipes and tubes instead of welded as safety and life cycle costs become a bigger factor, similar to western economies and also China. It is our goal to be at the forefront of this change.

Furthermore, to meet the demands of our global clients and gain more recognition in the western markets, we are planning to establish new manufacturing units in both

European and western countries. This expansion will allow us to cater to a wider customer base and strengthen our positionintheinternationalmarket.

O.P. Jindal Group's NSSL to Set Up 6,00,000 TPA Square, Rectangular Pipes Manufacturing Unit In Chhattisgarh

O.P. Jindal Group's blue-chip unit, Nalwa Special Steel Limited (NSSL) signed an MoU with the government of Chhattisgarh for setting up a square and rectangular pipes manufacturing plant in the Raigarh district. The project will entail an INR 450 crore investment. The plant has an annual production target of 6,00,000 TPA.

May 3, 2023

Nalwa Special Steel Limited (NSSL), an O.P. Jindal

Group unit, has recently signed an MoU with the Chhattisgarh government to establish a plant for square and rectangular pipes manufacturing in Tehsil Tamnar, district Raigarh. The project involves an investment of nearly INR 450 crore and the annual production target has been set at 6,00,000 TPA.

Nalwa Special Steel is a subsidiary of Jindal Group and is in full-fledged production at Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh. The MoU was signed by Bhuvanesh Yadav, Secretary, Commerce and Industry, and Pradeep Tandon, on behalf of the company. Mr. Tandon shared that the establishment and operation of the plant would

create new employment opportunities for that region's youth and the industry would become a partner in the development of the region.

with the

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ASB Tubes Explores Diversification into Duplex Stainless Steel Pipes

ASB Tubes Private Limited is

only 10 years old in the tubes and pipes segment. Yet, continuous learning, upskilling, technology upgrading, and capacity expansion, have helped the company to increase its manufacturing capacities drastically to 15,000 TPA. In a recent conversation with Tube & Pipe India, Mr. Aniket Bhansali, Director of ASB Tubes, shares how the company's journey has been, its current capacities, and future plans. He also shared that ASB Tubes is working on developing duplex stainless steel pipes, a rare grade of stainless steel pipes.

Tube & Pipe India: Could you please give us a brief outline of the business journey of your company along with its crucial milestones?

Aniket Bhansali: Although ASB Tubes Private Limited was established in 2013 with its manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad, Gujarat; we have been a part of the stainless steel industry for 30 years, and we have an experience of 10 yearsinthetubesandpipessegment.

When we first established ASB Tubes, we had only 2 machines and we manufactured 30 tonnes of output. Over the years we continuously expanded our knowledge and upskilled ourselves, and kept investing in new and faster machines and technology. As a result, we have successfully raised our production capacity to 15,000 TPA, and offer a

Mr. Aniket Bhansali, Director of ASB Tubes

far more diverse and higher quality of stainless steel tubes andpipessolutions.

TPI: Can you give details about the machines installed at your facility and your manufacturing capabilities?

AB: Currently, we employ 34 tig mills, and manufacture an average of over 1200 TPM. This production capacity places us among the top 10 ERW welded pipe manufacturers in India.WehaveprocuredourmachinesfromIndiaandfrom other countries, like China and Taiwan, but they are all basedonEuropeandesign.

We manufacture varying grades of 200, 300, and 400 seriesstainlesssteelERWtubesandpipes.

TPI: Tell us about your product portfolio along with its key strengths and applications.

AB: We offer stainless steel tubes, pipes, strips and coils, and rods, in various grades and dimensions. Our portfolio includesERWpipesandtubessegmentwhichislikewelded pipes and tubes. We are producing very small sizes of pipes and tubes, which only a few manufacturers in India have capacitiesfor.

Our products are actively employed in fabrication plants, sugar mills, the oil and gas industry, the chemical industry, dairy, food and beverage processing plants, water treatment plants, furniture market for decorations, hospitals,railways,etc.

TPI: What is your technology and business roadmap?

AB: Technology is a crucial part of our plant, and we have our own testing facility. We test our own products for quality, application, perseverance, and other factors that determine the longevity of our products. We focus on consistent R&D and in-house development of better grades ofproducts.

As for the business aspect, we focus on big industry players, who deal in huge quantities. We supply directly to OEMs, big companies, and industries. We have a vast network of traders and distributors, who help us communicate our

offers and product portfolio to the best companies in India, as well as abroad. We also have a dedicated export team, which ensures our products are according to applicable regulations. We are slowly upgrading our capacities to cater toourinternationalcustomersaswell.

TPI: What is your opinion on the current state of the industry? How do you see the market evolving?

AB: Stainless steel is enjoying a preference over carbon steel and aluminum products. It is because it offers higher strength and quality, and caters to the concerns of the modern generation. The end product is much better and has a longer life as stainless steel does not rust owing to its high nickel content alloys. The emerging market and new projectsarefavorableforthemetal,andhenceus. Automation is another aspect that has eventually integrated itself into the industry. However, manpower is irreplaceable, especially in India due to easy availability at cheaper prices. Moreover, in our industry, a manual overview is necessary to ensure desired results and quality maintenance. As a result, we see that our industry is semiautomated, and is making the most out of both technology andhumanresource.

Going forward we see various new trends, grades, and products emerge which would provide more sustainable solutions, like Green Steel. I think in the future, solar is a good option for us because solar power is the upcoming technology,savingyourcoststoo.

TPI: What are the recent developments at your end and what will be the future plans?

AB: We are working on a new grade of pipes called duplex stainless steel pipes, however, it is still in the R&D stage. Duplex stainless steel is a better and rare grade of metal and is superior to presently available solutions. Once successful, the one-of-a-kind grade will definitely help us widenourclientbaseandmarketfootprint.

Presently, we have a mind to keep focusing on stainless steelproductsinourtubesandpipessegment.

Huliot India: PP Plastic Pipes & Fittings to Overcome PVC and CPVC-Induced Hazards

The global population is aiming to become as plastic-independent as possible,

however, we need to accept the fact that plastic cannot be eliminated from our lives. Plastic was a wonderful discovery and led to many revolutionary products and applications, such as plastic pipes and fittings for drainage systems. Yet again, the hazardous effects of PVC and CPVC material cannot be ignored. Huliot India, a unit of Huliot Group, is among the pioneers of supplying safer plastic-based alternatives in the Indian market, as it uses PP to manufacture its products. In a conversation with Tube & Pipe India, Mr. Prasanna Shetty, Deputy CEO of Huliot India, shares how PP drainage products can solve the collective market concern. He also sheds light on the company's journey, new developments, advanced products, and future plans.

Mr. Prasanna Shetty, Deputy CEO of Huliot India

Tube & Pipe India: Please share with us Huliot India's journey, overview, and crucial milestones.

Mr. Prasanna Shetty: Huliot Group was first established in Israel in 1947 and was the first company in the country to manufacture PP plastic products. The company expanded its operations to set up Huliot India - Huliot Pipes & Fittings Private Limited in 2014. The establishment was among the first companies to introduce polypropylene (PP) pipe manufacturing and its domestic applications in India, while also contributing to the Government of India's Make in India programme. Since 2014, Huliot India has worked to advocate the use of PP drainage systems in residential and commercial buildings, against PVC and CPVC applications. We have also developed advanced products like STP, HT Pro, and Ultra Silent (acoustic and non-acoustic) drainage system applications. Our company is wholly dedicated to developing reliable and safe domestic drainage systems, and all our products have applications in water supply, drainage, sewage, and gray water recycling systems.

TPI: Please tell us about your manufacturing set-up, capabilities, and capacities.

PS: Our manufacturing plant is in Vadodara, Gujarat, where we have 2

German-made extrusion lines. The lines have a production capacity of 400 kilograms per hour, which exceeds the average market capacity by a huge margin. As of 2023, our plant supplies 40-45 percent of domestic market demand, and we import at least 55 percent of our products from Israeli manufacturing units. We plan to expand our manufacturing capacity to fulfill 100 percent of domestic demand from our Vadodara facility by 2025.

Apart from manufacturing set-up, we have an in-house design and engineering support team. The team is responsible for designing and building entire drainage or supply systems for large-scale projects. They provide turnkey solutions for underdevelopment or planned infrastructure projects, including designing BOQs and checking installations.

TPI: Can you elaborate on your company's product portfolio for us? What is your USP?

PS: We make acoustic and nonacoustic PP pipes, which are triplelayered and 100 percent recyclable. These pipes have a temperature resistance range of -20 to 95 degrees, and chemical resistance of ph2 to ph12. Hence, our products can be used for both hot and cold flow discharges. We offer pipes with diameters ranging from 32 mm to 160 mm. We also manufacture

accessories and fittings, and all our products are push-fit insertion enabled, providing a leakproof flow and discharge.

Our products are wholly recyclable and have a life cycle of 50 years, which is in alignment with the majority of buildings or structures' life cycles. All our products are cutto-length according to clients' requirements to avoid material wastage.

Our in-house engineering and technical support provide system design and engineering services. They design the whole drainage system and manufacture pipes and fittings accordingly, and we provide a 10-year guarantee to clients who use 100 percent of our solutions and products for their buildings or project.

Our products are ClearBlack STP, which is an IoT-enabled STP plant working on MBR technology to eliminate the need for 24x7 manual supervision. The operators can easily supervise and fix the product by identifying the problem area on the interface.

TPI: Please tell us about your market footprint and major clientele.

PS: Our product line wholly caters to water flow discharge, which along with our advanced technical and structural applications help us serve a vast range of clients. In India, we have been a supplier to big-time luxury and premium real-estate projects, hospitals, hotels, and newly emerging industries and sectors. Huliot India has also been part of various government-backed projects, like AIIMS Bhatinda, AIIMS Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, car parks, disaster management buildings, etc. We have a wide network of distributors and sales channels, which helps us enhance our market presence in the domestic market and serve endusers.

TPI: Are there any recent developments that Huliot India has invested in?

PS: We have developed the Red Fire system. It is manufactured with state-of-the-art three-layer polypropylene (PP-R+FG) and is used for hoses and sprinklers in medium-risk areas. The welding is done by thermofusion method, where the pipe and fittings are molecularly fused forming a homogenous connection, thus producing a highly reliable single piece.

We use crimping joint technology for our water supply range of multicomposite and SS 316 L, making it 100 percent leakproof. Our IoTempowered manufacturing capabilities, which can use solar power to operate, help us serve bigscale industries where the drainage systems are widespread and require focused and expedited attention.

TPI: Please share your observations on the plastic tubes and pipes market.

PS: There was a lack of awareness in the pre Covid-19 years, as people were less inclined to learn about the possible hazards of using PVC and CPVC pipes. Post-pandemic, big industries to end users, all are more interested in knowing about the products that are being used, and it is easier for us to explain how PP pipes are better. It is now comparatively common knowledge that PP is a green product, as it does not exhume toxic fumes and gases while burning and it can be wholly recycled.

Furthermore, there used to be a pricing concern as well. It is true that our product will cost more on meters by meters scale, however, its overall cost for the whole project will be 5-7 percent lesser than PVC or CPVC systems.

TPI: What are Huliot India's plans for the future?

PS: The increase in general

awareness has led to an increase in demand for our products. Hence, we are looking forward to expanding our current distribution and sales channels. Moreover, we also expect to add a third extrusion line in comping September to self-satisfy the demand in the Indian market.

Huliot India's future plans are in line with our parent group's core thinking, to manufacture sustainable products through sustainable processes. We plan to invest in R&D, development of innovative technology, and solutions with futuristic applications. As urban areas focus on transforming into Smart Cities, we intend to integrate practices and solutions which cater to both the transformation process and the post-transformation existence. Our vision is to develop clean, recyclable, zero-waste, and sustainable applications.

Al Jazeera Contracts POMINI to Design a 450,000 Metric TPA Rolling Mill in Abu Dhabi

Al Jazeera Steel Products Co. SAOG has contracted POMINI Long Rolling Mills to design and construct a new mill in Kezad, Abu Dhabi. The mill will have a manufacturing capacity of 450,000 metric TPA of beams.

May 12, 2023

Al Jazeera Steel Products Co. SAOG has contracted

POMINI Long Rolling Mills to design and supply a new rolling mill for medium sections to be installed in Kezad, Abu Dhabi.

The new mill will manufacture beams, and process billets and blooms in low to medium-carbon steel at a capacity of 450,000 metric TPA. The mill design will allow the production of premium rails in the future, as per the more stringent requirements of international norms, including head-hardened rails. It will be the first rolling mill in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area capable, in a second phase, of producing rails.

The investment is in line with Al Jazeera's product and geographical expansion strategy, which will help the

Apr-May 2023

company significantly enhance its services to the construction, oil & gas, and infrastructure sectors.

Boray Boru, Turkey: 25 Years of Experience in Galavanized Tubes & Profiles Manufacturing

Boray Boru is a Turkish tubes

and profiles manufacturing company, with major business comprising exports across the globe. In a conversation with Tube & Pipe India, Mr. Murat Kahraman, Director of Boray Boru, shares how the company came to be and a peek into the new factory set up by the parent group, Aytekin Group. He also placed sincere hopes for the industry's future in light of recent geopolitical and national events.

Mr. Murat Kahraman, Director of Boray Boru

Tube & Pipe India: Could you please give us a brief outline of the business journey of your company along with its crucial milestones?

Murat Kahraman: Boray Boru is a part of Aytekin Group which was established in 1968. Aytekin Group is active in the green housing, iron and steel sectors of Turkey and operates in more than 50 countries. Aytekin Group has 4 sister companies; 'Aytekin Sera' which is the greenhouse material production center; 'Boray Boru' manufacturing the galvanized tubes and pipes; 'AYS Project' in the field of projecting (agriculture) preparing turnkey modern greenhouse systems; 'Aytekin Dis Ticaret'- foreign trade company carrying out the import and export activities of the group companies.

Boray Boru is a Turkey-based company located in Mersin, South Turkey. Our manufacturing facility is spread across 12,000 square meters. We are involved in the production of steel, carbon steel, and galvanized tubes and profiles for construction.

TPI: Tell us about your product portfolio along with its key strength and application.

MK: Initially, Aytekin entered the greenhouse sector with its profile and greenhouse material production. Eventually, in order to fulfill the needs in the region with the effect of growth, we established Boray Boru to meet our demand for galvanized tubes and profiles. We manufacture galvanized steel tubes, using

different types of machinery. We are producing carbon steel tubes, ARW welded steel tubes, special style tubes, and different types of profiles which local mills are using. We specialize in manufacturing galvanized tubes, which form nearly 90 percent of our production. Application wise, generally customers prefer to use our products for the greenhouse sector, for construction, carports, furniture, structures and buildings, etc.

TPI: What is your technology and business roadmap?

MK: We always do our best to be in step with the technologies. We have a research and development department and we use innovative technologies and products.

We continuously update ourselves with the technologies, new machinery, and new products, and try to produce niche products. We have a very flexible production line, and can produce different types and shapes of products, at a very fast pace. This enables us to compare with our competitors, both local and international, especially for galvanized products, as nearly 90 percent of our products are in the galvanized segment.

TPI: Can you shed some light on the market footprint and clientele of your company?

MK: Boray Boru was established 25 years ago, so we have a rich experience in the tube industry. Our location gives a strategic upper hand

in business as we are located close, only at a kilometer's distance, to Mersin International Port. Groupwise, we are exporting to a total of 69-70 countries, among which Boray Boru contributes to exports in over 50 countries.

We export to all major markets such as the UK, Romania, Israel, Mexico, some Arabic countries, Nigeria, some African countries, and Middle East countries.

TPI: What are the recent developments at your end? Also, what will be the future plans for the business?

MK: Our factory is 55 years old, and we plan to move to a new factory, which will spread over 40,000 square meters. It is located close to our current factory. We also plan to add 2 new machines and produce tubes and profiles in smaller dimensions. Currently, our smallest dimension manufactured is 12 millimeters, and we will produce up to 0.56 millimeters in the future.

TPI: How do you see the market evolving in the future?

MK: The market is not stable currently, as the raw material prices are not stable. Moreover, global events also affect the market and the market prices, such as the RussianUkraine war, China's situation, etc. Recently, unfortunately, we had an earthquake in Turkey, which again affected the market and us. Currently, we can only hope for things to get better in the future.

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Inductotherm Group Announces Participation in Thermprocess GIFA 2023 – Showcasing Advanced Induction Technology with Digital and Sustainable Solutions

nductotherm Group, a global leader in advanced Iinduction technology, is excited to announce its participation in the prestigious Thermprocess GIFA 2023, the world's leading trade fair for the thermal process technology industry.

At this year's event, we will be showcasing our advanced technology for induction melting, heating, heat treating, and welding equipment. Our cuttingedge products have been revolutionizing foundries, heat treat shops, and tube mills through digitalization, improving efficiency and product quality on a global scale.

"We're thrilled to be a part of Thermprocess GIFA 2023, where we will demonstrate our commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and innovative induction solutions," said Gary Doyon, CEO of Inductotherm Group. "Our advanced induction technology, coupled with our focus on digitalization, offers unprecedented levels of control and optimization in production processes."

Adding to the global scale of this event, Inductotherm Group will bring a diverse team of over 60 professionals who serve our customers around the world. This international team represents our local manufacturing, support and service, truly reflecting our global reach and customer-focused approach.

In addition to technological advancements, Inductotherm Group is proud to introduce sustainable melting and heating solutions, a significant step towards sustainable manufacturing practices. These solutions aim to reduce energy consumption and

lower carbon emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future.

"Our green melting and heating solutions reflect our commitment to environmental sustainability," added Doyon. "As we continue to innovate, we're not only focused on enhancing performance and efficiency, but also on reducing our carbon footprint."

Inductotherm Group cordially invites you to visit Hall10B42 to experience firsthand how advanced technologies and green solutions are shaping the future of the thermal process technology industry.

About Inductotherm Group:

Inductotherm Group is a worldwide leading manufacturer of advanced induction technologies for a variety of applications, including melting, heating, heat treating, and welding equipment. Our mission is to provide highquality, innovative solutions that advance the way industries process materials, focusing on both performance and sustainability.

Introducing the Future of Real-Time Problem Solving: The Groundbreaking Augmented Reality Headset

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Inductotherm Group presents the Thermatool

TMSuperVizor Headset, a groundbreaking solution for real-time problem-solving. Imagine your team directly connected to a Thermatool service technician, receiving immediate one-on-one technical support for any issue requiring urgent attention. Our

TMSuperVizor Headset is designed to provide the fastest response to diagnostic and troubleshooting queries.

TM When an employee dons the SuperVizor Headset, they step into a world of augmented reality where Thermatool experts can see exactly what they see. Not

only that, your technician will interact with our service technician, as well as with drawings and documents that we share with you, all aimed at swiftly resolving the problem at hand.

TM Our SuperVizor Headset comes packed with features and benefits that dramatically improve the efficiency of your in-plant maintenance team. Experience direct contact with experienced Thermatool technicians for

immediate assistance, following all relevant safety procedures like lock out tag out. Get hands-free access to drawings and documentation, eliminating costly travel time and expenses. Witness a boost in your maintenance team's productivity, thanks to enhanced communication through remote visual access to Thermatool service technicians.

TM The SuperVizor Headset takes support to the next level by providing your team with step-by-step guidance through problem-solving with virtual elements, like augmented arrows and markups for clear instruction and direction. Step into the future of © TM problem-solving with the Thermatool SuperVizor Headset and experience a new level of productivity and efficiency in maintenance and troubleshooting.

European Union Signs CBAM Regulation for Carbon-Intensive Imports Management

The co-legislators of the European Union have signed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Regulation to fight against carbon-intensive imports. The CBAM, which will be implemented in a transitional phase starting from 1 October 2023, plans to assign a fair price to the carbon emissions associated with the production of carbonintensive goods entering the EU.

May 23, 2023

The European Union's co-legislators have recently

signed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Regulation, an initiative towards the EU's fight against carbon-intensive imports. The CBAM regulation will be implemented in a transitional phase starting from 1 October 2023, with importers required to report their emissions by 31 January 2024. The CBAM's core objective is addressing the issue of carbon leakage occurring due to the relocation of EUbased companies to countries with less stringent climate policies or replacement of EU products by carbon-intensive imports.

The CBAM plans to assign a fair price to the carbon emissions associated with the production of carbonintensive goods entering the EU, which will incentivize cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries. The CBAM's scope initially focuses on imports from sectors that face the highest risk of carbon leakage due to their carbon-intensive nature, like cement, iron and

steel, aluminum, fertilizers, electricity, and hydrogen. However, it is projected that the CBAM will gradually cover over 50% of emissions in sectors regulated by the EU Emissions Trading System. From 1 January 2026, importers will be expected to declare their annual imports and the corresponding embedded greenhouse gas emissions, following which they will surrender the CBAM certificates, the price of which will be determined based on the weekly average auction price of EU ETS allowances. During CBAM's transitional phase, it will undergo a detailed functionality review along with a product scope assessment, to be concluded before the definitive system comes into force, along with a roadmap for their inclusion by 2030.

TenarisSaudiSteelPipes Bags Oil & Gas Steel Pipes Contract worth USD 25.8 Million from Aramco

TenarisSaudiSteelPipes recently announced that it has bagged an order from Saudi Aramco worth USD 25.8 million, for the supply of oil and gas steel pipes. The contract duration is reportedly 13 months, and the financial impact of this contract is expected to be evident from the second quarter of 2024.

May 15, 2023

Steel pipe manufacturer TenarisSaudiSteelPipes has

recently won the bid for a contract valued at USD 25.8 million (SAR 96.8 million) from Saudi Aramco. The contract consists of the supply of oil and gas steel pipes, with the contract duration of 13 months, TenarisSaudiSteelPipes shared with the Saudi stock

exchange, Tadawul. The company anticipates that the financial impact of this contract will become evident from the second quarter of 2024.

Tenaris Saudi Steel Pipes is a leading manufacturer and supplier of electrically resistant welded steel pipes (ERW) for the energy, industrial, and construction segments of the Middle East and North Africa.

TenarisSaudiSteelPipes offers oil and gas customers a full range of products including Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG), Line pipe, API and Premium Connections and related accessories and services.

China's Xinxing to Invest USD 2 Billion for Cast Iron Pipes, Steel Products Production Plant in Egypt

Chinese ductile iron pipes and pipe castings manufacturer, Xingxing Ductile Iron Pipe Company is planning to invest approximately USD 2 billion to establish production plants for cast iron pipes and steel products in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). The cast iron production facility will be built during Phase 1 at a total investment of USD 150 million and the steel products plant would be built during Phase 2 at a total investment of about USD 1.8 billion. With a total annual production value worth USD 2.6 billion, the project is expected to create 2,100 jobs.

Mar 23, 2023

China-based Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipe Company

intends to invest nearly USD 2 billion in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), for establishing a cast iron pipes and steel products production plant. According to the press statement issued by SCZONE and Egyptian Cabinet, the plant will be built over an area of 1.7 million square metres in China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, located within SCZONE in Ain Sokhna. With an annual production value worth USD 2.6 billion, the project is expected to create 2,100 jobs.

During Phase 1, the cast iron production facility will be built over an area of 250,000 sqm with annual production capacity of 250,000 tonnes, at a total investment of USD 150 million.This facility will

reportedly have a production value of about USD 1.2 billion per year and employ 616 workers. The steel products plant would be built during Phase 2 at a total investment of about USD 1.8 billion. The export based project will be spread over an area of 1.45 million sqm, have a production capacity of 2 million tonnes annually, employ 1,500 people and have an annual production value of about USD 1.4 billion.

IGGL completes Asia's largest underwater hydrocarbon pipeline across Brahmaputra

Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited's (IGGL) has completed the construction of Asia's largest underwater hydro-carbon pipeline, connecting Jorhat and Majuli in Assam running below the Brahmaputra river, according to IGGL CEO, Mr. Ajit Kumar Thakur. The total length of HDD crossing across the Brahmaputra river is 5,780 metres.

Apr 22, 2023

Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited's (IGGL) CEO, Mr. Ajit

Kumar Thakur recently shared that IGGL has completed the construction of Asia's largest underwater hydro-carbon pipeline, connecting Jorhat and Majuli in Assam running below the Brahmaputra river. Mr. Thakur shared that this is the longest river crossing by any hydrocarbon pipeline of size 24-inch diameter and above in Asia and the second longest in the world. The unique HDD river crossing was executed by intersection method, where two HDD rigs simultaneously started drilling from the two sides of Brahmaputra with intersection of the two drilling heads in the middle at 30 metres beneath the river bed.

The project involved the challenging task of laying a 24-inch diameter hydrocarbon pipeline beneath the mighty Brahmaputra river by Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method. The total length of HDD crossing across the Brahmaputra river is 5,780 metres. The pipeline was laid in three separate HDD sections

of length 1000 m, 4080 m and 700 m. The next step involves the tie-in of the three sections at two points, located at 15 m and 8 m below Natural Ground Level (NGL). "With the completion of the Brahmaputra HDD, IGGL has achieved more than 71 percent physical progress of the NEGG Project and will be able to complete the Guwahati-Numaligarh section of the project by February 2024'', Thakur said.

T&H Lemont Ships Second TIG Mill for Stainless Steel Pipe Production

Custom manufacturer T&H Lemont has shipped its second TIG mill, out of two identical mills, to their longtime stainless steel pipe producing customer. The mills produce pipe diameters from 3/8 to 1.050 inches. The investment includes entry equipment for continuous operation.

Apr 12, 2023

T&H Lemont has recently

shipped the second of two TIG mills, to a longtime stainless steel pipe producing customer. These two identical mills, T&H Lemont model number WU11M-12,

produce pipe diameters from 3/8 to 1.050 inches. The pipe goes into products it makes for applications such as commercial HVAC, industrial refrigeration, power generation, and industrial processing. The durable, robust pipe from its mills supports the

company's reputation for manufacturing equipment that is built to last. The wall thickness range is from 0.020 to 0.065 inch. The mill is designed to run at a maximum of 50 feet per minute.

The investment includes entry equipment for continuous operation.

A double uncoiler, a shear end welding unit, and an accumulator provide a buffer so production doesn't stop. It has a six-roll, water-

cooled weld box and an inert gas system to protect and cool the weld. Furthermore, a camera-based weld seam tracking unit provides lateral

Tata Steel to Install EUR 5 Million

Furnaces at Corby Tube Mill

and vertical positioning of the tricathode welding carriage. Each welding torch also has an independent adjustment and the system uses arc voltage control (AVC) for welding parameter stability. The flying cutoff system is a hybrid. It uses a carriage drive system from a T&H Lemont model FCO-125 cutoff system and a rotary cutting head specified by the customer. Operator conveniences include single-point adjustments on the vertical roll stands, lubrication points on the operator side of the mill, and a welding control system installed within view of the weld box, allowing the operator to observe the welding process while making adjustments on the fly.

Electric Induction

Tata Steel is set to invest EUR 5 million for installation of state-of-the-art electric induction furnaces, in a bid to reduce emissions by at least 2000 tonnes of CO2 a year from the company's Corby tube mill. The improved efficiency of the new electric furnaces means that they require less pre-heating from the gas-fired furnaces and therefore fewer associated emissions.

Mar 13, 2023

AEUR 5 million investment in state-of-the-art

electric induction furnaces will reduce emissions from one of Tata Steel's tube mills in Corby by at least 2000 tonnes of CO a year. The Stretch Reduction mill 2 (SR2) takes 169 mm diameter steel tubes and heats them to around 1100°C before they are stretched into hollow sections as small as 40mm diameter with wall thicknesses as thin as 3.2mm. Works Manager Gary Blackman shared, “This is the first part of our extensive plans to make the Corby site CO-neutral in 2 line with Tata Steel's declared environmental ambitions of becoming net zero globally by 2045. It also forms part of our sustainability commitment that encompasses the wider topics of biodiversity, material efficiency and sustainable products.”

Project Lead, Paul Ilko added, “The new induction furnaces will replace the original ones that first came into operation in 1980, since which the mill has

produced around 2.5 million tonnes—or over 200,000km—of tubes in its lifetime: enough to stretch around the world five times. Mr. Ilko shares that the improved efficiency of the new electric furnaces means that they require less pre-heating from the gas-fired furnaces and therefore fewer associated emissions. At the same time, as part of their sustainability commitment, the company aims to move their electricity supply towards low-carbon, renewable sources in due course.

East Pipes, Saudi Arabia, Contracted by Aramco to Supply Steel Pipes Worth USD 480 Million

East Pipes Integrated Co, Saudi Arabia, will supply USD 480 million worth of steel pipes to Aramco, Saudi Arabia. The product shall be applied to various key projects in the kingdom.

May 23, 2023

East Pipes Integrated Co, Saudi Arabia, has been

contracted by Aramco, Saudi Arabia, to manufacture and supply steel pipes worth USD 480 million. The contract order will take a 12-month period, at the latest, to complete and will be used by Aramco to commission key projects in the kingdom.

East Pipes, founded in 2010, is a major spiral steel pipe manufacturer with a production capacity of up to 500,000 TPA. The company's wide range of diameters of spiral pipes find applications in various industries and are manufactured at the plant site which also houses a factory for coating all pipes of various sizes and lengths, with an annual production capacity of 4.5 million square meters.

Perma-Pipe India Wins Thermally Insulated Pipe, Field Joints Orders Worth USD 6.5 Million

Perma-Pipe International Holdings has announced orders of approximately USD 6.5 million in contracts to its subsidiary Perma-Pipe India Private Limited, during the first quarter of 2023. Two major projects from Reliance New Solar Energy Limited and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited will begin execution in the Gandhidham, Gujarat facility in the first and second quarter of 2023.

Apr 6, 2023

Perma-Pipe International Holdings announced its

subsidiary Perma-Pipe India Private Limited (Perma-Pipe India) has been awarded approximately USD 6.5 million in contracts during the first quarter of 2023. Two major projects will begin execution in Perma-Pipe's Gandhidham, Gujarat, India facility in the first and second quarter of 2023.

Reliance New Solar Energy Limited awarded PermaPipe India for supplying thermally insulated pipe and field joints for a chilled water network on the 10 GW solar cell and module factory in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The

project will utilize Perma-Pipe's XTRU-THERM® insulation system, a spray-applied polyurethane foam jacketed with a high-density polyethylene casing. Prior to application of the insulation system, an anticorrosion liquid epoxy coating system will be applied to the pipes as well as installing Perma-Pipe's own

PermAlert® leak detection system. In addition, Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited awarded PermaPipe India for the provision of thermally insulated pipe and field joints for a heat-traced application on the ABNP - Cairn Project, Rajasthan. The project will utilize Perma-Pipe's TRACE-THERM™ insulation system designed to ensure optimum heat management during the life of the pipeline. The system will have welded tracer tubes for heat tracing and spray-applied polyurethane foam jacketed with a high-density

polyethylene casing. Prior to application of the insulation system, an anti-corrosion fusion bonded epoxy coating will be applied internally and externally using Perma-Pipe's custom coating facility.

David Mansfield, President and CEO commented, “We are delighted with both of these awards, and that customers return to place their trust in Perma-Pipe to deliver their projects. It is also satisfying to see that the strategic decision to install a custom coating plant in India was the right one.”

Kuusakoski Invests EUR 25 Million to Setup First Carbon Free Steel Recycling Plant in Finland

Recycling pioneer Kuusakoski is set to invest EUR 25 million for construction of a 100 percent carbon free steel recycling plant, located in Veitsiluoto in the Northern Gulf of Bothnia, Finland. The plant is projected to result in reducing additional 150,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually throughout the entire supply chain and is scheduled to be in operation in 2025.

Mar 22, 2023

Kuusakoski plans to invest EUR 25 million to build a

steel recycling plant that will operate 100 percent carbon free. The plant will be located in Veitsiluoto, a well-known industrial site located in the Northern Gulf of Bothnia, Finland. The new plant will be built in Veitsiluoto, Kemi and will increase the annual recycling capacity of Kuusakoski by 25 percent or 150,000 tonnes. The port connection effectively links sea freight to rail and road transport. The investment is projected to result in over 150,000 tonnes of avoided CO emissions annually throughout the entire supply 2 chain.

The plant will produce significantly higher levels of purity in its recycled raw materials and have improved separation capabilities due to new technology used in the pre-treatment and analysis of the material. The total value of the investment is EUR 25 million, of which EUR 2.8 million will be financed by Business Finland from Recovery and Resilience Facility funding. The plant's construction is planned to begin next year and it is scheduled to be in operation in 2025.

This plant is part of Kuusakoski´s multi-year green investment program, with a target of carbon free

operations by 2035. The Veitsiluoto recycling plant is just one concrete step on the company's carbon roadmap. “We are seeing the steel industry beginning to move towards carbon free production. Our new plant will bring with it carbon free processing, which will enable our customers to further reduce their climate impact throughout the value chain”, says

Mikko Kuusilehto, President and CEO.

SMS Group Bags Continuous Caster Order from Kalyani Group's Saarloha

SMS Group recently received an order for a continuous casting plant to produce India's largest round blooms at its facility in Pune, Maharashtra from Kalyani Group's company Saarloha Advanced Materials Private Limited. The start of production is planned for July 2024.

Apr 13, 2023

Saarloha Advanced Materials Private Limited, a

Kalyani Group company, has awarded an order to SMS group for a continuous casting plant to produce India's largest round blooms at its facility in Pune, Maharashtra. Designed for section sizes of 160 x 160 to 340 x 400 millimeters and with a round diameter of 500 millimeters, SMS will supply the complete plant technology for the continuous caster with the largest round profile in India. The start of production is planned for July 2024. The new continuous caster will be built next to the existing caster without affecting ongoing operations.

The caster will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology for enhanced cast product quality in a variety of special steels, including CONGAUGE, the patented mold level control system that also measures and controls the mold powder thickness along with the liquid steel level, CONDRIVE (mold oscillator drive) with servo drive for improved surface quality, as well as the mold and electromagnetic stirrers for enhanced internal quality and porosity. The caster will come with a mechanical soft and hard reduction system for improved segregation and center porosity. For re-stranding, a rigid dummy bar system will be provided, which enables fully

automatic dummy bar insertion, and a traversing dummy bar unit. The system is designed for high productivity and low maintenance while at the same time facilitating precise alignment of the strand. For optimal process control and tracking, SMS plans to supply its Level 2 automation solution.

“SMS is a world leader in supplying advanced, highquality equipment to the metals industry. Saarloha has recently launched India's first green steel on the market – KALYANI FeRRESTATM. With its green steel offering and the addition of a feature-packed continuous caster from SMS, Saarloha will be able to get into new product segments and regional markets. We look forward to continued support from the SMS team,” says R. K. Goyal, Director at Saarloha.

Benteler Steel/Tube To Close Switzerland Tube Plant

German holding company Benteler Steel/Tube has decided to close its plant in Rothrist, Switzerland. The plant specializes in the production of quality welded drawn tubes for the industrial and automotive sectors and employs around 300 people. The company has taken this step as a response to the declining situation on the global welded tube market.

Apr 5, 2023

Benteler Steel/Tube has announced that it will

close its production site in Rothrist, Switzerland by the end of 2023. The plant in Rothrist, with around 300 employees, specializes in the production of quality

welded drawn tubes for the industrial and automotive sectors. The company has taken this step as a response to the situation on the global welded tube market, which has been tense for some years and is caused by export restrictions due to customs duties, the continued high costs for energy, spare parts and

raw material, as well as the declining demand for powertrain components for vehicles with combustion engines. All these factors have negatively affected the Rothrist plant.

“We very much regret having to close our plant in Rothrist at the end of 2023. Making this final decision was not easy for us. Many of our employees have been with us for years and have done great work. We would like to express our gratitude once again," explained Thomas

Michels, Chief Operating Officer (COO)

at BENTELER Steel/Tube.

Bend-Tech to Launch New Coolant Support System for Longer Tubes and Pipes

Bend-Tech to Launch Coolant Support System for its Dragon A400 and Dragon A250 CNC plasma tube and pipe-cutting models. The new system enables longer section cutting and easy handling of the stock.

Apr 12, 2023

Bend-Tech, a US-based leading developer of

versatile CNC plasma tube and pipe cutting equipment and integrated software, will launch its Coolant Support System at the upcoming 2023 Steel Conference. The system is designed to work with Bend-Tech's Dragon A400 and Dragon A250 CNC plasma tube and pipe-cutting models.

The system will make the handling of longer tube and pipe materials more efficient. It has additional support trolleys to carry stock as it is loaded and holds up long parts to maintain a consistent, cleaner cut, no matter the length. The system also allows the cutting of longer parts while maintaining safety standards.

The Coolant Support System is ideal for the fabrication of stainless steel tubes and pipes with application in industries such as petrochemical, chemical, and dairy, as well as aluminum tubes and pipes used in boat docks and trailer manufacturing. The system is designed with rigid sidewalls and splash guards that securely contain fluids and prevent spills to run production efficiently, keep a clean shop environment, and maintain safety standards.

The A400's full 400-pound weight capacity is supported in round, square, or rectangle stocks with the same sizing up to 6.375 inches measured at the

hypotenuse. Bend-Tech's A400 will be capable of cutting, marking, and engraving long aluminum trailer rails and stainless staircase handrails. Other closedprofile stocks can also be run with coolant using custom plugs. The A250 will support round stock to 260 pounds.

The new system allows quick release for fast changes between materials sizes, maintains material centerline, and uses non-marring, durable Teflon® supports.

Mr. Mitchell Eigenberger, General Manager of BendTech, says, “Bend-Tech's new support system enhances the most versatile CNC plasma cutters on the market, our Dragon A250 and A400. We took customer feedback to heart when designing the new Coolant Support System so operators can work with longer materials and cut longer parts in a safe and efficient manner.”

Turkey's Borusan Mannesmann Begins Negotiations on Europipe's US Subsidiary Acquisition

Turkey's largest steel pipe producer Borusan Mannesmann's US subsidiary, Borusan Mannesmann Pipe US Inc. has initiated negotiations with German steel pipe producer Europipe GmbH for acquisition of Europipe's US subsidiary, Berg Europipe Holding Corp. Reportedly, a non-binding letter of intent was signed between the parties on March 2 and the necessary negotiations for a binding agreement between the parties are ongoing.

20 Mar 2023

Borusan Mannesmann's fully owned US subsidiary,

Borusan Mannesmann Pipe US Inc., has reportedly begun negotiations with German steel pipe producer Europipe GmbH for acquisition of all issued and outstanding shares of capital stock in the US subsidiary of Europipe, Berg Europipe Holding Corp. According to a regulatory filing, a non-binding letter of intent was signed between the parties on March 2 and the necessary negotiations for a binding agreement between the parties are ongoing. “In the meantime, the necessary financial and legal studies within the scope of the process and the required procedures before the regulatory authorities are being carried out,” Borusan said.

Borusan Mannesmann has an ERW pipe mill in Baytown, Texas, has a 300,000 mt/year capacity. The company began investments last year to raise its US mill

capacity to 400,000 mt/year with new lines. The company's Turkish mill capacities are 750,000 mt/year of ERW pipes and 300,000 mt/year of spiral pipes. The company's capacity to produce cold-drawn special pipe at its Vobarno plant in Italy is 28,000 mt/year. According to sources, fluctuations in raw material prices have been putting pressure on steel pipe producers' pricing.

MSS Steel Tubes USA to Setup Steel Tube Mill For Nextracker's Solar Tracking Systems

MSS Steel Tubes USA is set to commission a new Tennessee factory to manufacture lowcarbon steel components for Nextracker's solar tracking systems. The Memphis-based facility will manufacture Nextracker steel torque tubes, creating 129 jobs and generating millions of dollars in local economic investment.

May 18, 2023

MSS Steel Tubes USA, a joint venture of

Metalogalva and Soufer, and Nextracker Incorporated, a global market leader in utility-scale solar trackers, have announced the commissioning of a new Tennessee factory to manufacture low-carbon steel components for Nextracker's solar tracking systems. The Memphis-based facility will manufacture Nextracker steel torque tubes, creating 129 jobs and

generating millions of dollars in local economic investment. “We chose Memphis for our first U.S. plant to support Nextracker's utility-scale solar demand across the Southeast. Memphis has the transportation, infrastructure, and capable workforce necessary to support a solar manufacturing program like this.” said António Pedro Antunes, CEO of Metalogalva Group.

Nextracker's dedicated tube mill will feed projects in Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, and

Georgia. Tennessee-based, Silicon Ranch—which pioneered utility-scale solar in the Southeast—is developing many of those projects, having signed a supply agreement for 1.5 gigawatts with Nextracker last year, and another new 3 gigawatt supply agreement today. Nextracker's collaboration with MSS Steel Tubes USA underscores the Tennessee Valley's growth as a regional manufacturing hub for the Southeast. As more companies seek to locate their manufacturing capacity in the U.S., Nextracker has already delivered gigawatts of U.S.-made products to solar developers. Today's announcement shows that Nextracker stands ready for the next generation of utility-scale projects in the Southeast with products manufactured in the Tennessee Valley.

Finland's Outokumpu Divests Remaining Sweden-Based Long Products Operations at EUR 12 million

Stainless steel producer Outokumpu has divested a majority of its Long Products business, through signing an agreement to divest these operations in Degerfors and Storfors to Cogne Acciai Speciali, leading producer of long stainless steels and nickel alloys based in Italy. The enterprise value of the transaction is EUR 12 million and the divestment is expected to be complete in a couple of months.

Apr 1, 2023

Outokumpu has recently divested the majority of

its Long Products business. The company has signed an agreement to divest these operations in Degerfors and Storfors to Cogne Acciai Speciali, a world leader in the production of long stainless steels and nickel alloys based in Italy. Outokumpu Long Products AB's units in Degerfors and Storfors in Sweden were not part of the deal and continued their operations as part of the Group, while Outokumpu evaluated different options for the future of the units.

The reported enterprise value of the transaction is EUR 12 million, with a positive cash impact for Outokumpu. However, Outokumpu booked a loss of approximately EUR 30 million based on the current estimates of the consideration. Outokumpu expects to complete the divestment in a couple of months. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals by the competition authorities. The transaction will be carried out as a share sale.

Outokumpu's other operations in Degerfors are not affected by the divestment.

“Our priority has been to find a buyer also for the remaining long products operations in Degerfors and Storfors. We are pleased that in Cogne Acciai Speciali we have found a responsible new owner for these operations as well. At the same time, the divestment is a further natural step for Outokumpu in line with our strategy to focus purely on our core business, stainless steel flat products and ferrochrome,” says Matti Louhija, Head of M&A at Outokumpu.

Alleima Group Appoints New President for Tube Division

Alleima has appointed a new President for its tube division, who will also be included in the Group's Executive Management. Mr. Carl von Schantz will join the office in Sandviken on November 17, 2023, at the latest.

May 17, 2023

lleima appoints Mr. Carl von Schantz as the new President for the tube division and member of the Group Executive Management as of November 17, 2023, at the latest. The position is located in Sandviken. He is presently working as President for the General Industry Tools and Assembly Systems division at Atlas Copco. He will succeed Mr. Michael Andersson, who will leave the company in June 2023.

AMr. Göran Björkman, President and CEO of Alleima, stated, "I am very pleased that Carl von Schantz will start the position as President of the tube division at Alleima. He is an experienced leader with broad experience from leading positions in several industries. He has demonstrated a strong ability for organizational development and driving growth in his previous roles. I am confident that he will be a driven and future-oriented leader for tube and is a good addition to the Group Executive Management Team."

Mr. Nigel Haworth, who has been serving as the acting President of the Tube division since February 13, 2023, will continue to do so until Mr. Carl von Schantz begins his position.

Forza Steel, Mexico, to Invest USD 60 Million to Setup

240,000 TPA Steel Pipes & Tubes Plant in USA

Forza Steel, Mexico, will invest USD 60 million to set up a 240,000 TPA capacity manufacturing plant at The Port of Brownsville, Texas, USA. The new 650,000-square-foot facility will manufacture steel pipes and tubes for the automotive, construction, and oil and gas industries.

May 20, 2023

Forza Steel, Mexico, will invest USD 60 million to

build a 240,000 TPA capacity state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at The Port of Brownsville, Texas, USA. The plant shall be spread over 650,000 square-foot, and 260,000 metric tons of steel shall be brought in every year for manufacturing.

The new facility will also include an automated tarping station and will serve the US market for the company with steel pipes and tubes for the automotive, construction, and oil and gas industries. The equipment installment is planned for July.

Mr. Isidro Cantu, General Manager for Forza Steel USA, stated, “The Port of Brownsville is the perfect location for Forza Steel's entry into the American market. The location from Monterrey to Brownsville is ideal. Forza Steel is very excited to be part of the Brownsville community and grow.”

Mr. Eduardo A. Campirano, Director and CEO of the Port of Brownsville, commented, “We are excited to expand our role in the steel industry as a major gateway for steel in both Mexico and the United States. Our multimodal logistics allow companies to optimize the movement of goods via rail, truck, and water to save time and money.”

Forza Steel specializes in the manufacturing of carbon steel pipe and has been serving the Mexican and US markets through its Salinas Victoria, Nuevo León, Mexico plant.

INfab Acknowledges Technar's Rotoweld 3.0 Automatic

Rotary Pipe Welding Cell

INfab, an O'Neal Inc. subsidiary, acknowledges the significant role that Technar's Rotoweld 3.0 automatic rotary pipe welding cell has played in its emergence as a self-dependent company. The twin-bay welding cell undertakes the work equivalent to 4-5 manual welders.

May 23, 2023

Technar's Rotoweld 3.0 automatic rotary pipe

welding cell is a twin-bay cell used to weld carbon steel pipes from 3”-42” OD and stainless steel from 6”42” OD for customers in the chemical, wastewater, and pulp and paper sectors. When welding the complex spools of large-diameter pipe, the automatic cell routinely does the work of four or five welders. INfab, an O'Neal Inc. subsidiary, was launched in 2019 and equipped with a Rotoweld 3.0 among other equipment. At INfab, two different welding guns are used with the robot to enable 100 percent CO surface tension 2 transfer to perform the initial root pass on its pipe welds and spray arc transfer welding to fill the rest of the gap. Rotoweld's 4D Synergy welding technology simultaneously tracks and adjusts four welding parameters: traveling speed, wire speed, oscillation, and arc power. The unit uses a feature called Rotomatic to automatically maintain the position of the arc in the bevel and accommodate 100 percent of gap variation from 2 to 4 mm in open welds, even when traveling at full speed.

When the cell encounters tacks in the weld path, it can compensate to make sure that the welding arc is always in front of the weld puddle.

Mr. Jason Jones, Vice President of INfab, explained, “You have to do a fair amount of work upfront in breaking the spools so that you've got enough room to roll. Our superintendent and our plant manager will make sure that the spool is built in what we call 'subs.' They'll literally mark on the spool sheet that this is going to fitter A, B, or C, and this is the order that it's going to go to the Rotoweld so that when it comes back, those individual pieces, those individual subs, can get final fit and final weld.”

He further stated “You have to build it in an order that allows you to put the most welds on the Rotoweld. If you don't spend that time, you may only get one [weld] where you could have gotten four or five welds on a given complex spool. So, when you account for that, then you account for the time it takes to load the positioner with these spools. Our data shows we are

getting four to five times the throughput that we do with a manual welder.”

According to Mr. Alexandre Nadeau, President & CEO of Tecnar, a shop that has done the proper setup should be able to put 70% of the welds on a given spool across a Rotoweld, more is also possible. He comments, “If you're below that, you're probably not thinking through your sequencing properly.”

INfab has tailored its operation around the technology from the beginning. This saved the company the pain of switching from manually intensive processes to more automated ones and kept it ahead of the curve in dealing with the shortage of skilled welders. It has since been significant in raising the annual revenue to an average of USD 20 million. The company which started working mainly with existing O'Neal customers, now does 70 percent of its business with companies that it solicited on its own.

Mr. Jones stated, “We're not a union shop; we're an open shop. There's no question that the craft labor market, especially for qualified pipe welders and fitters, is shrinking, and when you have a machine that can do the work of four to five manual welders, in our case, you've got to leverage that.”

The automated cell enables INfab to make the most of its 50,000 sq. ft. of floor space, as Mr. Jones explained, “We're not a massive facility by any stretch. You can only fit so many manual welders in a given square foot [area]. Especially when you're dealing with a large pipe, you can get really clogged up really quickly. Your flow is incredibly important. [The welding cell] has allowed us to maximize our revenue within our footprint.”

Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria PipelineTransports Over 962

Million

Cubic Meters of Natural Gas

The Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (ICGB) pipeline has transported more than 962 million cubic meters of natural gas, as per reports. The ICGB has a capacity of up to 3 billion m3 per year for gas transportation, but the capacity allows for potential expansion up to 5 billion m3 per year.

May 29, 2023

The Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (ICGB) has

reportedly transported over 11.3 million megawatt-hours or more than 962 million cubic meters of natural gas. As per reports, the interconnector has become the supplier for almost one-third of Bulgaria's winter natural gas consumption, since the start of the current heating season. Serving as the primary pathway for diverse natural gas supplies to Bulgaria, the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria ensures enhanced supply security and source diversification.

This development significantly contributes to fostering competition within the natural gas market, thereby enabling optimized prices for both businesses and domestic consumers in the country. The gas pipeline covers a total distance of 182 km with a diameter of 32 inches. The ICGB has been designed with a capacity of up to 3 billion m3 per year for gas transportation from

Greece to Bulgaria. However, the interconnector's capacity allows for potential expansion up to 5 billion m3 per year, considering the market demand and the capabilities of neighboring gas transmission systems. This capacity can be achieved by constructing an additional compressor station to accommodate higher volumes of gas.

Pacline Conveyors Acquires USA based Advanced Welding

Pacline Overhead Conveyors, Canada, has acquired Advanced Welding, USA. Advanced Welding's logo has been updated and a new website has also been launched to accommodate ownership change. The brand name shall be retained.

May 23, 2023

Pacline Overhead Conveyors, Canada, has acquired

Advanced Welding, USA, under its strategy to expand its manufacturing capabilities and strengthen its position as a leader in the conveyor industry.

Advanced Welding is a reputable welding and fabrication shop in Franklin, Ohio, and will continue to operate and serve customers in Ohio and the surrounding areas. The acquisition will help Advanced Welding to expand its offerings and provide more comprehensive solutions to its customers. The logo has already been updated and a new website has been launched to provide customers with a modern, userfriendly experience to learn more about their services,

including welding, waterjet cutting, plastics cutting, and tube bending.

Mr. Karl Scholz, President of Pacline, stated “We are pleased to announce that Advanced Welding is now part of the Pacline family. This acquisition enables us to increase our production capacity and better serve our customers. At the same time, we are confident that this acquisition will enable Advanced Welding to better serve their new and existing customers with even more advanced capabilities and resources.”

Recently, Pacline also installed a new state-of-the-art paint booth in the facility and has been committed to Advanced Welding's growth allowing for the expansion of solution offerings to include painting and engineering services in the near future.

Aker BP and Subsea7 Contract Tenaris to Supply

Tubing, Casing, and Line Pipes for Fenris Project

Aker BP and Subsea7 Norway have contracted Tenaris to supply orders for the Fenris Project, Norway. Tenaris will supply approximately 7,000 tonnes of pipes and 10,000 tonnes of line pipes, of different dimensions, to Aker BP and Subsea7 respectively.

May 22, 2023

Aker BP, Norway, and Subsea7 Norway have

contracted Tenaris, Norway, for 2 different purchase orders for the Fenris project. Tenaris will supply casing and tubing to Aker BP, and line pipe to Subsea7 Norway.

Tenaris will also supply 7,000 tons of pipes (approximately), ranging from 10”-17” OD, with TenarisHydril Blue® Max and Blue® Heavy Wall premium connections and Dopeless® technology and with sour service grade, TN 125SS. Dopeless® technology is a dope-free solution, that offers operational and environmental benefits, such as reduced running times, nearly zero rejects/re-makeups, and enhanced safety through zero discharge.

Tenaris will also supply approximately 10,000 tons of 14”, 12”, and 4” OD line pipes to Subsea7 Norway, including the application of anti-corrosion coating.

Fenris is a gas reservoir, which will be developed by an unmanned installation (UI) with 8 slots, subsea tied

back 50 kilometers to the Valhall field center in the southernmost part of the Norwegian continental shelf.

Mr. Christer Andersen, Tenaris Country Manager in Norway, said, “The project requires highly sophisticated products that have been extensively tested. In Norway, dope-free solutions are a standard in oil and gas operations, imposed by governmental environmental regulations. For the Fenris project, Tenaris was awarded the supply of intermediate and production casings due to the API RP 5C5 CAL IV testing of TenarisHydril Blue® connections, tested with Dopeless® technology as well as their track record in HPHT projects.”

QuakeWrap's StifPipe Composite Pipe Repair Detroit's Sewage System

StifPipe, QuakeWrap Inc's large-diameter composite pipes, are currently being installed in the latest sewage infrastructure project in Detroit, Michigan. The 16-foot-diameter FRP pipes are set to transfer more than half of Detroit's sewage from a pump station.

May 29, 2023

QuakeWrap Inc's large-diameter composite pipes,

known as StifPipe, are being installed in the latest sewage infrastructure project in Detroit, Michigan. QuakeWrap's 16-foot-diameter FRP pipes are set to transfer more than half of Detroit's sewage from a pump station. None of the previous projects have involved StifPipe at the scale required in the Detroit application. “What makes the Detroit project unique is

that it's probably the biggest polymer composite pipe in the world,” says Dr. Firat Sever, Pipeline Division manager at QuakeWrap. The pipes being installed in Detroit are 16 feet in diameter and only 2 inches thick. StifPipe is composed of 12 layers of material — four layers of carbon fiber, six layers of glass fiber and two layers of a proprietary core. One of the main advantages of StifPipe, according to QuakeWrap, is that it is relatively lightweight, which makes installation easier.

“The weight of StifPipe for this project is about 450500 pounds per foot. For each segment, you're

talking about less than four tons, and that is amazingly light — about 10% the weight of concrete and steel and less than 25% of factory-made, mortar core fiberglass pipes. That says a lot during construction, and contractors love that aspect of the composite pipes,” says Sever. StifPipe's lightweight design means it does not need jacking equipment for its installation and it is advantageous during the shipping process. “This pipe has the highest strengthto-weight ratio of any pipe on the market,” contends Dr. Mo Ehsani, founder and president of QuakeWrap. “That makes it really lightweight, and it doesn't corrode, so it has a lot of advantages. When you use a thicker wall liner that is made of less strong materials, then you will lose hydraulic capacity [the optimal flow of wastewater] and that's quite important, especially when you convey huge volumes of fluid or water.”

Welded Tubes Announces Opening of New 55,000 Sq Ft Small-Diameter, Tight Tolerance Tubing Facility in Mexico

High quality tubing producer, Welded Tubes recently shared plans for a new 55,000 square foot facility, to be set up in Monterrey, Mexico. The new facility will begin operations in early 2024 with a focus on small-diameter, tight tolerance tubing for the automotive industry. The facility is breaking ground on the large Steel Warehouse campus in Monterrey.

Apr 19, 2023

Welded Tubes has announced the opening of a

new 55,000 square foot facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The new facility will begin operations in early 2024 with a focus on small-diameter, tight tolerance tubing for the automotive industry, a specialty of the Ohio based manufacturer. "Our customers are increasing their presence in Mexico and have asked us to continue to support their expansion efforts and their commitment to the OEM's." Says Joe Frandanisa, president of Welded Tubes Inc. "We are listening to our customer's needs, and our expansion in Monterey will allow us to grow and strengthen our relationships with them."

The facility is breaking ground on the large Steel Warehouse campus in Monterrey. Steel Warehouse is the sister company of Lock Joint Tube (LJT), the parent company of Welded Tubes. This expansion will strengthen the supply chain of Welded Tubes and their customers. This expansion will take LJT's combined company presence to six locations and be the first

international presence for the tubers. The new facility has plans to expand to include LJT's capability range after its first several years in operation.

Kevin Marks, President, Lock Joint Tube is looking forward to the new facility becoming operational. "With the support of Steel Warehouse Mexico, we are expanding into Mexico with a ton of confidence. I anticipate more exciting news in Mexico in the years to come." Says Kevin.

QuakeWrap team members demonstrate the size of the 16-foot-diameter StifPipe.

India's Share is 46% in Asia's Pipeline Length Addition

During 2023-27

India will contribute to 46 percent of pipeline length addition in Asia during 2023-27. The projects accounting for 27,543 kilometers have already been approved. The projects nearing completion include Jagdishpur-Haldia Phase II gas pipeline (1,900 kilometers) and Kandla-Gorakhpur LPG pipeline (2,809 kilometers).

May 17, 2023

According to GlobalData's recent report, India's

planned and announced trunk/transmission pipeline projects will amount to 46 percent of Asia's overall projects to be undertaken during 2023-27. The report also India will add 27,543 kilometers of pipeline length through its projects that have cleared all necessary approvals. Meanwhile, projects that have been announced but are yet to get approvals shall add 2,208 kilometers of pipeline length.

The Kandla-Gorakhpur LPG pipeline is 2,809 kilometers long and is the largest upcoming oil and gas pipeline project. The pipeline will satiate the LPG bottling facilities of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The pipeline will become operational in 2024.

The Jagdishpur-Haldia Phase II gas pipeline comes second with a length of 1,900 kilometers. GAIL India is the operator and 100 percent equity owner of the project, which shall become operational in 2023. The pipeline will connect eastern states, such as West Bengal, with the national gas transmission network.

Ms. Bhargavi Gandham, Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, said, “Pipelines are an efficient and

cheaper way of transporting oil and gas for large countries such as India. The growing economy and strong demand for oil and gas are mainly driving pipeline additions in the country.”

Ms. Bhargavi further shared, “Mehsana-Bhatinda gas pipeline stands third with a total length of 1834 km. GSPL India Gasnet Ltd is the operator of this pipeline, which is expected to commence operations in 2023. The pipeline runs through the states of Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan, giving a further boost to industrial development. For instance, Rajasthan announced plans to primarily develop furnace-based industrial clusters along the pipeline route to take advantage of relatively cheaper natural gas for production.”

IOC to Spend INR 17 Billion to Construct 2 Petroleum Pipelines

India will spend over INR 17 billion to construct 2 petroleum pipelines and 1 greenfield terminal out of the 4 identified projects. IOC shall construct Siliguri-Jhapa Pipeline, Amlekhganj-Lothar Petroleum Pipeline, and the Jhapa terminal, while Nepal Oil Corporation will construct the Chitwan terminal.

May 26, 2023 from Amlekhganj, Bara (Nepal), to Lothar, Chitwan, (Nepal). The projects have been in discussion between Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

India will be spending over INR 17 billion on the

construction of 2 petroleum pipeline projects and a storage facility. The two projects include pipeline construction from Siliguri, India, to Jhapa, Nepal, and

Nepal Oil Corporation has identified four projects: Siliguri-Jhapa pipeline, the Amlekhganj-Lothar

petroleum pipeline, and greenfield terminals at Lothar in Jhapa and in Chitwan. IOC will construct SiliguriJhapa Pipeline, Amlekhganj-Lothar Petroleum Pipeline, and the terminal at Jhapa under grants. The 62kilometer Amlekhganj-Lothar petroleum pipeline is estimated to cost INR 274 crores; the 50-kilometer (35 kilometers in India and 15 kilometers in Nepal) SiliguriJhapa pipeline will cost INR 288 crores; the Jhapa terminal will cost INR 502 crores.

The Chitwan terminal shall be constructed by India and Nepal Oil Corporation will bear the cost of INR 618 crores. The corporation has already purchased land to build terminals. The fuel storage capacity of the Jhapa terminal will be 42,000 kiloliters and the Lothar terminal will be 103,150 kiloliters.

Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister of Nepal, visited India on May 31, 2023.

Mr. Ramesh Rijal, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal, who is also participating in the visit said, “The Government of India has agreed to build a petroleum pipeline under a grant. An agreement will be reached during the PM's upcoming visit to India.”

India has helped Nepal build various petroleum pipelines. The Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum pipeline, constructed by IOC, is already exporting diesel to Nepal. The pipelines help cut down transportation costs, maintain the purity of products, and control leakages, theft, and adulteration.

ONGC Plans to Invest INR 1 Lakh Crore for Petrochemical Capacity Increase By 2030

India's largest crude oil and natural gas company ONGC intends to make an investment of INR 1 lakh crore towards increasing its petrochemical production capacity. The investment involves the installation of new facilities which create chemicals directly from oil. ONGC's Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL) subsidiaries will be carrying out the company's plans.

Apr 26, 2023

Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) is planning to

invest INR 1 lakh crore by 2030 for installing new facilities to create chemicals directly from oil, in a bid to increase its petrochemicals production capacity. ONGC's plans are expected to be carried out through its Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL) subsidiaries. ONGC's plans intend to raise the combined annual petrochemical capacity of MRPL and OPaL to over 8 million TPA by 2030.

The growth project involves two major projects, in which the plants will either use alternative feedstocks or crude to make chemicals. The crude that ONGC produces can also serve as a feedstock for its crude-to-chemical operation. However, ONGC faces certain challenges regarding the perchem developments. The company faces challenges with OPaL, which is a joint venture

between ONGC and GAIL, as it has built debt totaling 35,000 crore on a relatively small equity base and ONGC needs to make OPaL an ONGC subsidiary. Furthermore, decrease in the supply of low-cost domestic natural gas, a feedstock, as the government shifted supply to other sectors of the economy, presents another recent difficulty for ONGC's petchem operation.

Indian Oil to Invest INR 61,000 crore for Petrochemical Complex Setup at Orissa

Indian Oil Corporation is set to make an investment of INR 61,077 crore, the company's largest investment at a single location, towards building a petrochemical complex at Paradip, Orissa. The complex is expected to include a world-scale cracker unit along with downstream process units for producing several petrochemical products. The project will be a growth driver in making the company a major player in the petrochemical industry, while strengthening India's self-reliance in the sector and catalyze the growth of PCPIR and a plastic park at Paradip, Orissa.

Mar 23, 2023

State-owned refiner Indian Oil Corporation shared

news of their upcoming investment of INR 61,077 crore in building a petrochemical complex at Paradip, Orissa. This is the company's largest-ever investment at a single location as a part of its transition plan, including boosting petrochemical intensity to help protect against volatility. IOC's petrochemical intensity — the percentage of crude oil converted into chemicals — is low at 5-6 per cent at present. The company intends to take it up to 10-12 per cent.

The petrochemical complex is expected to include a world-scale cracker unit along with downstream process units for producing several petrochemical products including polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and poly vinyl chloride (PVC). It shall also facilitate the production of niche chemicals and petrochemicals such as phenol and iso-propyl alcohol. The project will catalyze the growth of PCPIR and a plastic park at Paradip, Orissa. On the commissioning of this project, domestically available petrochemicals

are expected to provide, feed and vitalise industrial growth in key downstream industries and is expected to create employment opportunities in eastern India.

Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, the chairman, IndianOil said:

“This mega project is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Purvodaya that is sure to accelerate the development trajectory and fuel prosperity in Eastern India. “This cutting-edge, state-ofthe-art petrochemical complex will undoubtedly be transformative in its impact, significantly advancing the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.”

Nigeria: Over USD 1.1 Billion Invested for AjaokutaKaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline Project

Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has already spent over USD 1.1 billion for the construction of the AKK Gas Pipeline and Station project. The project on completion shall transport 2 billion cubic feet of gas.

Apr 25, 2023

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)

Limited has spent over USD 1.1 billion towards the under-construction Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and Station project, as claimed by Mr. Malam Mele Kyari, CEO of NNPC Limited Group, while touring

the Kogi project site accompanied with officials from Oilserv Limited (Pipelines and Facilities), the project contractor.

He further shared that 70 percent of welding work, 222 kilometers, was already completed and the rest, 27 kilometers, once completed will allow 2 billion cubic

Nigeria's under-construction gas pipeline project has already seen an appropriation of USD 1.1 billion.

feet of gas transportation, powering industries, powering power plants, and creating gas-based industries. The gas pipeline is expected to provide support to power plants as well for generating 3,645 MW of energy. The Abuja- Kaduna power plants are expected to get commissioned soon as well.

Mr. Kyari commented, “To date, none of the project activities is abandoned as reported and we reassure all stakeholders that we have a line of sight to project delivery on schedule. NNPC Limited remains highly committed to the delivery of strategic National infrastructure projects through responsive project delivery, active collaboration with government security agencies and communities as well as deployment of technology for delivering the project.”

He shared, “This is one of the most massive projects of proportion value to our country for economic growth. It is a must-deliver project and we have continued to fund it in spite of not having third-party finance support, we will deliver this project. We do not owe a dollar to our contractors, there are over 30 sites that are active today in this project, we are very hopeful and optimistic to deliver this project.” he assured.

Mr. Steve Nnorom, Project Manager at Oilserv Limited, shared that three schematic pipeline and station installations, namely Brovo, Chalie, and Alpha, certified the project's progress, “We are crossing rivers, railways, existing pipelines. We have other sites where various work activities are ongoing, our target is that concurrently all works will be going on at different spread.”

India-Iran Strategic Partnership: Possible Extension of Oman Natural Gas Pipeline upto Porbandar

The interactive meeting at MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai was attended by Iranian diplomats. Looking forward to furthering the trade and strategic relations of India-Iran, they announced the possibility of extending the natural gas pipeline for Oman up to Porbandar.

Apr 15, 2023

Mr. Mehdi Safari, Deputy Foreign Minister for

Economic Relations of Iran, during his address at the MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai interactive meeting, announced, “Already, Iran is building this natural gas pipeline to Oman, which can be extended to India up to Porbandar,” he further stated, “Our export to India has grown 60 percent in 2022 and in the last two months it has grown 90 percent. This implies diversification of trade away from crude oil. Iran is committed to meeting the energy needs of India.” Iran is facing US-imposed economic sanctions

for over 40 years, however, India is among its top five trade partners.

Mr. Safari was attending the meeting to promote the “Iran Expo 2023” and explore possible trade and investment collaborations. The Iran Expo 2023 is to be held in Tehran from May 7 to May 10. He also proposed to India the Chabahar port, South of Iran, as a gateway to access Central Asia, Caucasian and European markets through the International NorthSouth Transit Corridor, “We are also working with Persian Gulf countries, including Emirates and Qatar to promote trade through this corridor.” He added, "There are also other opportunities to invest in

infrastructure, tourism as well as manufacturing projects in this region,” seeking Indian investment for the development of Shahid Beheshti port.

Mr. Iraj Elhai, the Iranian Ambassador to India, acknowledged India as a major trade partner for crude oil and fertilizer for energy and food security, “Today,

we have created an alternative SWIFT payment settlement mechanism with 10 countries to bypass US sanctions. We are also engaged in barter trade in energy, biomedicine, medical equipment, and other products with foreign countries,” he further said, “Today, we have created an alternative SWIFT payment settlement mechanism with 10 countries to bypass US sanctions. We are also engaged in barter trade in energy, biomedicine, medical equipment, and other products with foreign countries.”

Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai, stated “Iran can be the gateway to Central Asia and Europe. The current bilateral trade has declined from the high level of USD 18 billion in 2018 to less than USD 2 billion last year because of US sanctions. We need to promote trade settlement in local currency to increase trade volume to the previous high level. Both countries can address bottlenecks in trade by improving connectivity, fast-tracking road, port, and the 600 km railway line from Chabahar port to Zahedan."

East-European Countries Agree to Boost Natural Gas Transfers from Azerbaijan

Certain east-European countries have recently agreed to boost the natural gas transfer from Azerbaijan utilizing their existing infrastructure. Following the EU's aim to steer Europe's energy sources away from Russian gas, the EU signed an MoU with Azerbaijan

3 for doubling the Azeri gas imports volume to 20 billion m per year by 2027.

Apr 25, 2023

The east-European countries of Bulgaria, Romania,

Hungary and Slovakia have recently agreed to boost the natural gas transfer from Azerbaijan. The countries' national gas system operators assented to the transfer utilizing their existing infrastructure which were until recently highly dependent on Russian energy. Bulgaria is linked to the multi-segment pipeline project Southern Gas Corridor, for natural gas supply from Azerbaijan to Italy, through an inter-connector with Greece. The connector facilitates delivery of 1 3 billion m Caspian gas to Bulgaria, covering nearly onethird of the country's needs, and has capacity to 3 increase the volume to up to 5 billion m annually.

The European Union is aiming to steer Europe's energy sources away from Russian Gas. Following this aim, the EU has signed an MoU in July with Azerbaijan for

3

doubling the Azeri gas imports volume to 20 billion m per year by 2027. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan's president, attended the signing ceremony in Sofia, Bulgaria and said that the signing of the agreement between the European nations and the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan is “a very timely step” expected to bring bigger and more secure gas supplies to many more countries in Europe.

Iran might extend its natural gas pipeline project to Oman up to Porbandar, Gujarat.

Saudi Arabia to Create 12,000 km Water Project, longer than the Nile River

Saudi Arabia has recently shared plans to create the world's largest source of drinkable water. Their plan involves digging a river with dimensions of 12,000 km in length, 11 metres in width, and four metres in depth, which will surpass the length of the Nile River. It is reported that the large-scale project will require anti-corrosion pipes, each with a diameter of 2.25 metres. The resulting 'river' will be one of the world's largest desalinated water networks.

Mar 30, 2023

Saudi Arabia is planning to take up the major project

of creating the world's largest source of drinkable water. Their strategy involves digging a river spanning 12,000 km in length, 11 metres in width, and four metres in depth, with the aim of surpassing the length of the Nile River. The resulting 'river' will be one of the world's largest desalinated water networks, producing 9.4mn cubic metres of water per day for Saudi Arabia.

According to the reports of popular Saudi journalist Ahmad Al Shugairi, the large-scale project will require anti-corrosion pipes, each with a diameter of 2.25 metres. “After a few years, the length of the water pipes will transport this fresh water from one place to another, he shared, indicating that this project is expected to be twice the size of the Nile, which is over 6,000 kilometres long.

It is reported that the pipes running beneath Saudi cities will extend for 126,000 kilometres, which is long

enough to wrap around the world three times. The network will produce a massive quantity of water, with 9.4 million cubic meters being generated each day. If this water is distributed to the world's population, according to Al Shugairi, every person would get two gallons (two bottles) of water from the production of water sweetened in Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria-Morocco 5,600 Km Long Gas Pipeline Project Estimated at USD 25 Billion

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation will buy a 50% stake in the USD 25 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project. The pipeline shall be the world's largest offshore project spanning 5,600 kilometers.

Apr 7, 2023

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCL) will invest USD 12.5 billion to secure a 50 percent stake in the USD 25 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project. The project is the world's longest offshore gas pipeline, covering some 5,600 kilometers across 11 African countries.

The strategic Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project will run along the West African coast from Nigeria, through

Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania to Morocco. It will be connected to the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline and the European gas network and will also supply the landlocked states of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. NNPCL and the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) are jointly financing the project in equal parts.

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is one of the flagship projects linking the two countries through several West

African countries. Studies for this mega-project are at an advanced stage and MoUs have been signed in recent months. The first was signed between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Kingdom of Morocco. Two others were signed between Morocco, Nigeria, and Mauritania on the one

hand, and Morocco, Nigeria, and Senegal on the other. Five other tripartite MoUs were concluded respectively and successively between Morocco and Nigeria, on the one hand, and Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ghana, on the other.

Mr. Mallam Mele Kyari, MD of NNPCL, said that the Corporation's pipeline project, which will link Nigeria to Morocco, is already in Phase II of the preliminary design study, and is undergoing an environmental impact assessment and rights of way investigations.

According to Kyari, NNPCL is taking advantage of Nigeria's huge natural gas reserves of more than 200 billion cubic feet, which could grow to 600 billion cubic feet as more investment is expected due to the recent resolution of production sharing contract disputes with partners. He added that Nigeria's gas infrastructure network has the capacity to transport about 6.9 billion standard cubic feet of gas to support power generation.

US Govt Approves USD 39 Billion Alaska LNG Project for Gas Exports

The US government has approved the Alaska LNG project to export to countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the nation. The project is yet to be examined for long-term viability and has no final decision on investment yet. The project is estimated at USD 39 billion.

Apr 13, 2023

The US Department of Energy has given its nod to

the Alaska Gasline Development Corp (AGDC) to export the project's LNG to countries, majorly Asian, that have no free trade agreement (FTA) with the US yet. The long-term viability of the nearly USD 39 billion project is yet to be determined. The final investment decision is pending as well, however, the project is expected to become operational by 2030.

The project includes the construction of a liquefaction facility on the Kenai Peninsula, South Alaska, and a proposed 807-mile (1,300-km) pipeline to transport gas stranded in northern Alaska across the state. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) an independent agency that regulates Alaska LNG's siting, construction, and operation approved the US project in 2020.

Frank Richards, President of AGDC, said that the company will review the approval, which will provide

Alaskans and U.S. allies with a significant source of low-emissions, responsibly produced energy consistent with international environmental priorities.

The US government had recently, last month, approved the ConocoPhillips USD 7 billion Willow oil and gas drilling project on Alaska's North Slope.

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project is estimated to cost USD 25 billion.

USD 39 billion Alaska LNG project gets government approval for energy exports.

Iran's 200 Km Gas Pipeline will Boost Energy Exports to Oman

Iran has commissioned a 200 kilometers gas pipeline for its coastal areas alongside the Sea of Oman. The pipeline sources energy from South Pars and will help Iran set up energy-based bilateral trade relations with Oman.

Apr 5, 2023

Iran is set to commission a 200 kilometers gas

pipeline from Minak to Kuhmobarak. The pipeline will source its energy from South Pars and shall be connected to the 7th leg of Iran's pipeline grid. Mr. Reza Noshadi, leader of the National Iranian Gas Company's engineering subsidiary, shared that the 120-kilometer-long Minab to Sirik section is nearly 87 percent complete, and the second section's construction has already started in February 2023. The pipeline may also be used to facilitate energy exports to Oman. Mr. Noshadi stated that the pipeline will boost both domestic supply and possible energybased bilateral trade relations with Oman.

Although South Pars, located on Iran-Qatar maritime border in the Persian Gulf, is the world's largest gas field, Iran will have to rely on Russian imports to enable energy exports to Oman.

Bosnia-Herzegovina Reach Consensus to Begin Negotiations On Gas Pipeline From Russia

Mr. Dusko Perovic, the head of Republika Srpska's mission in Russia, has reportedly shared that Bosnia and Herzegovina's council of ministers has agreed to begin negotiations on building a gas pipeline to ship gas from Russia.

May 22, 2023

Head of Republika Srpska's mission in Russia, Mr.

Dusko Perovic has reportedly stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina's council of ministers has reached a consensus and agreed to begin negotiations on building a gas pipeline to ship gas from Russia. As per reports, Mr. Perovic stated that "The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina gave the green light to start the negotiation process", and that region's government would seek to have gas shipped via neighboring Serbia. Republika Srpska, which is the Serbia-dominated part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has taken a strongly pro-Moscow line under its nationalist leader, Mr. Milorad Dodik.

200 kilometers long gas pipeline in coastal areas alongside the Sea of Oman will help launch energy exports to Oman.

China Contracts 'West to East' 400 Km Long 100,000 TPA Green Hydrogen Pipeline

Sinopec, a Chinese state-owned oil and gas company, shall build the country's largest green-hydrogen pipeline stretching over 400 kilometers and with a transportation capacity of 100,000 TPA.

Apr 10, 2023

Sinopec, a Chinese state-owned oil and gas

company, has bagged the contract to build a hydrogen pipeline, power-sourced from renewable energy projects in the northwestern inner Mongolia region to cities in East China. A report cited Mr. Ma Yongsheng, Chairman of Sinopec, stating that the pipeline will stretch over 400 kilometers connecting Ulanqab to Beijing, and will have an initial capacity of 100,000 TPA.

The pipeline shall be China's first 'West to East' green hydrogen transmission line, even though the fossilsourced 'grey hydrogen' pipeline is already operational. The pipeline shall be enabled with ports to integrate new potential hydrogen sources.

Sinopec is the country's largest hydrogen producer. The company is also involved in building a green

China will get its first green hydrogen pipeline of 100,000 TPA.

hydrogen plant of 30,000 TPA in Ordos. In 2021, the company launched a green hydrogen project in Kuqa, western Xinjiang region.

In 2022, China's state planner announced green hydrogen production targets of 100,000 to 200,000 TPA and 50,000 hydrogen-fuelled vehicles by 2025.

Uganda's 1,445 Km USD 3.5 Billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline shall Serve Exports

Congo and Uganda are in discussion about crude-oil exports, based on Uganda's East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) pipeline project. The project is estimated to cost USD 3.5 billion to set up 1,445 kilometers of crude-oil pipeline, sourced by the Albertine Graben rift basin oil fields.

May 10, 2023

Mr. Didier Budimbu, Minister of the Democratic

Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Hydrocarbons, met for discussion with Mr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Energy Minister of Uganda, for East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) based petroleum exports.

EACOP is a 1,445 kilometers long pipeline, being built by Uganda at an investment of USD 3.5 billion. The project will source energy from the oil-rich basin of Albertine Graben, a shared territory between DRC and Uganda. The pipeline will be used to export crude oil to the

international market and is expected to become operational in 2025. The Uganda pipeline is expected to help the country set up various crude-oil-based trade relations with neighboring countries like South Sudan, Tanzania, etc.

DRC Ministry of Hydrocarbons announced, “Uganda acknowledged the crucial requirement of DRC to

access the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) for the transport of crude oil to be produced from the oil exploration blocks located in the Albertine Graben in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

The presidents of respective countries shall sign an MoU sealing the final contract regarding the project based on the reports of respective technical teams.

Iraq Allocates USD 417 Million for Its 3rd Offshore Oil Export Pipeline

The Government of Iraq has allocated USD 417 million for the construction of a third offshore oil export pipeline. The tenders are being invited from both domestic and international companies.

May 31, 2023

The Government of Iraq has allocated USD 417

million for the construction of a third offshore oil export pipeline.

The Basra Oil Company (BOC) recently announced that strategic projects for infrastructure, production, and exports shall be carried out in this regard. Mr. Bassem Abdul Karim, the Director of BOC, stated “In addition to foreign companies operating in Basra, other foreign companies will start operating in Basra through competitive tenders.”

BOC is a state-owned company that contributes to over 75 percent of the state's budget. BOC recently signed a contract with a Dutch-dredging company, Royal Boskalis, to construct a pipeline with a daily transportation capacity of 2 million barrels. Recently, Iraq's cabinet also allocated USD 520 million

for the construction of a 750 MW solar power plant project. The project shall be constructed in Southern Iraq, in cooperation with Power China, a China-based company specializing in heavy and civil engineering construction.

Siberia-China Gas Pipeline Project; China Yet to Commit Explicitly

The Russian Prime Minister, Mr. Mikhail Mishustin, recently attended a summit in Beijing and met with the Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping to get an explicit agreement from China for the Siberia-China gas pipeline.

May 25, 2023

r. Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian Prime MMinister, met Mr. Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, during a summit in Beijing, China. He attended the summit to get an explicit agreement from

China for the Siberia-China gas pipeline among other reasons. The project is slated to boost the Russian economy, especially its declined gas revenues.

Mr. Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, is keen to finalize planned trade agreements with China,

Nahr Bin Umar Oil Field, North of Basra, Iraq

including the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which will transport natural gas from the Yamal Peninsula, Western Siberia, to China. He had previously stated

that the pipeline will replace Nord Stream 2, which used to transport around 50 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe annually.

However, China is yet to commit to the project explicitly and has made vague comments about further researching the project, as per reports.

Russia has been facing a strong backlash from the West for the Russia-Ukraine war and has imposed various sanctions including on gas exports. However, China has been a diplomatic and economic supporter of the nation. According to Ms. Alicja Bachulska, a China policy expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, China might be delaying finalizing the deal to secure lower prices.

US Govt Declares USD 196 Million Grants to Revamp Gas Distribution Pipelines

The US Government has announced USD 196 million in grants for the repair, replacement, and rebuilding of 270 miles of gas distribution pipes. 37 projects will receive funding over the course of five years.

Apr 5, 2023

Mr. Pete Buttigieg, the US Transportation

Secretary, along with the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program. Over the course of five years, USD 1 billion shall be disbursed in grants to 37 projects for the modernization of municipal and communityowned natural gas distribution pipes. The grants shall aid repair, replacement, or rehabilitation of nearly 270 miles of pipe, thereby reducing methane emissions by approximately 212 metric tons, annually.

Mr. Buttigieg commented, “This funding to modernize our gas pipelines will help protect residents from dangerous leaks, create good-paying jobs, and reduce methane emissions in communities across the nation, particularly in rural and underserved areas.”

Mr. Tristan Brown, PHMSA Deputy Administrator, said, “Investments in pipeline safety are investments in community safety and our shared environment. For far too long, underserved communities have had to bear the brunt of aging and dangerous pipelines.

This funding will finally give communities the resources they need to replace legacy pipelines— improving safety, protecting the environment, and creating jobs.”

The grant is a part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, which is attracting investments to rebuild the US infrastructure, create a manufacturing and innovation boom, and build a clean-energy economy to combat climate change and make resident communities safer and more resilient.

(Left to Right): Mr. Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian Prime Minister, and Mr. Xi Jinping, the Chinese President

USD 196 million in monetary grants to revamp gas distribution pipelines in the US.

Natural Gas Pipeline Construction from Israel to Cyprus Agreed

Upon

The Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister of Cyprus, recently shared that Israel and Cyprus have agreed to build a natural gas pipeline for natural gas transport from Israel to Cyprus. As per reports, Israel and Cyprus have discovered extensive natural gas fields in their adjoining EEZs in the eastern Mediterranean and the pipeline would be the first practical step towards transferring gas to Europe.

May 16, 2023

he Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister of Cyprus, Mr. Giorgos Papanastasiou has shared that Israel and Cyprus have agreed on the construction of a natural gas pipeline for the transport of natural gas from Israel to Cyprus. Mr. Papanastasiou added that he will be traveling to Israel to discuss details and prepare a final agreement with his Israeli counterpart. As per reports, Israel and Cyprus have both discovered extensive natural gas fields in their adjoining EEZs in the eastern Mediterranean and the pipeline would be

Tthe first practical step towards transferring gas to Europe. Mr. Papanastasiou shared that he will discuss the speedy resolution of an issue arising from a partial Israeli claim on a Cypriot gas deposit adjoining an Israeli gas field and the promotion of the construction of a gas pipe from the Israeli gas fields to a liquefaction plant in Cyprus. He added that part of the gas will be used for the production of cleaner and cheaper electricity and the rest will be turned into liquid form at a liquefaction plant for export to Europe. "What comes first in the current phase is the signing of an agreement between the two states, which will allow the building of a pipeline that will connect the Exclusive Economic Zones of the two countries. We'll start from there," Mr. Papanastasiou said.

SAGE to Build USD 5 Billion Undersea LNG Pipeline Project from the

Gulf to India

India's Ministry of Petroleum has been sought by South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE) to help develop a USD 5 billion undersea LNG pipeline from the Middle East to India.

May 17, 2023

India's Ministry of Petroleum has been approached by

South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE) India to help develop an undersea LNG pipeline from the Gulf to India. The project entails an investment of USD 5 billion. The 2,000-kilometer energy corridor will run via Oman and UAE and connect with India through the Arabian Sea. The corridor will enable LNG imports from Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Qatar. The region is home to 2,500 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, and an annual saving of USD 849.60 million is expected for India.

Mr. Subodh Kumar Jain, Director of SAGE, shared that the project's technical and financial feasibility has been successfully concluded.

Shri. R.K. Singh, India's Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, had recently stated India's plans to link National Power Grid with UAE & Saudi Arabia through undersea cables. He further stated that on the cabinet's approval bilateral agreements with Saudi Arabia & UAE could be signed for mega projects.

Tata Steel Limited Initiates Hydrogen Gas Injection Trial in Blast Furnace at Jamshedpur Plant

Indian steelmaker Tata Steel Limited has announced that it has initiated a trial for injecting hydrogen gas at its blast furnace in the company's flagship plant in Jamshedpur city, in an attempt to reduce metallurgical coke usage and cut carbon emissions. The company states that the trial is expected to run a continuous course of four to five days.

Apr 24, 2023

Tata Steel Limited has initiated a trial for injecting

hydrogen gas at its blast furnace in the company's flagship plant in Jamshedpur using 40% of the injection systems, in a bid to reduce metallurgical coke usage and cut carbon emissions.

Tata Steel stated that the trial is expected to run a continuous course of four to five days, and has the potential to reduce coke rate by 10%, resulting in a 7% to 10% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per ton of crude steel produced. The company said the trial will provide insights into operating blast furnaces with greener fuel injectants, reducing fossil fuel consumption and subsequent CO emissions from the 2 blast furnace. "This is the first time in the world that

such a large quantity of hydrogen gas is being continuously injected in a blast furnace," an official from Tata Steel shared. said.

IGL Signs MoU with Green Energy Group ACME for Green Hydrogen Business Opportunities

Indraprastha Gas Limited recently signed an MoU with ACME group, to explore green hydrogen's potential business opportunities. ACME group has stated that they will bring knowledge and skills as a green energy provider to various cities, while IGL has a prepared network to blend green hydrogen.

May 5, 2023

Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has recently signed an

MoU with diversified green energy group, ACME, for exploration of green hydrogen's potential business opportunities. The companies will collaborate to encourage customer adoption and generate demand for green hydrogen in the nation, while also investigating the possibility of establishing hydrogen producing facilities, including installing electrolyzers to mix green hydrogen into IGL's current pipeline networks supplying petrol to homes, businesses and other settings, as well as CNG for automobiles.

Mr. Ashwani Dudeja, President and Director (Green Hydrogen and Ammonia), ACME Group, stated that

ACME group will bring to the cooperation its knowledge and skills as a green energy provider to various cities, while IGL has a prepared network to blend green hydrogen.

BLM GROUP Launches VGPNext CAD/CAM Programming Software for Tube Bending Machines

BLM Group has introduced a new CAD/CAM programming software called VGPNext for BLM Group tube bending and wire bending machines, that tackles the latest technological challenges. With VGPNext you can identify the part program right away, simulate the job and start production in just a few clicks.

May 11, 2023

BLM Group recently introduced VGPNext, the new

CAD/CAM programming software for BLM Group tube bending and wire bending machines that tackles the latest technological challenges. The software features a completely revolutionized graphical user interface, with a multitude of features designed to make the machine programming more practical and simpler. VGPNext improves the synergy between machine and software by simplifying core functions for more user-friendly programming. With VGPNext you can identify the part program right away, simulate the job and start production in just a few clicks.

The software provides multiple methods and features for programming parts. VGPNext allows you to choose a program from the library, containing all the programs on the server in one place, providing the convenience of preview images and numerous search filters to make this step even easier. The software's B_import module saves a lot of time and allows less

experienced operators to quickly become familiar with the program. The entire programming flow is more user-friendly with the help of a ribbon bar that assists the operator by indicating missing steps, incorrectly filled-in data, default data and user-modified data. In this way, VGPNext considers all possible variables –including theoretical coordinates, springback, material elongation, bending feasibility, choice of tools, etc. –and indicates how to intervene. The software also has additional features like 3D simulation and time estimation, targeted defect correction, monitoring and plug-ins.

Xiris Launches Camera-Based Measurement Tool

SeamMonitor™ for Precise TIG Tube Welding

Xiris Automation has launched a camera-based measurement tool, SeamMonitor™, providing a robust solution to monitor tip-to-weld seam alignment on TIG tube mills. SeamMonitor™ is built on Xiris' WeldStudio™ software platform, providing TIG tube fabricators a comprehensive process monitoring solution to improve the quality and reliability of their welding process.

Apr 11, 2023

Xiris Automation, a leading provider of innovative

camera-based solutions for quality control in the metal fabrication industry, has announced the launch of SeamMonitor™, a camera-based measurement tool that provides real-time monitoring of the torch tip-toweld seam alignment and weld seam size on Tungsten

Inert Gas (TIG) welded tube mills. With the new launch, Xiris has enhanced its SeamMonitor™ system, which provides a robust solution to monitor tip-to-weld seam alignment on TIG tube mills. SeamMonitor™ is built on Xiris' WeldStudio™ software platform, providing TIG tube fabricators a comprehensive process monitoring solution to improve the quality and reliability of their welding process.

The SeamMonitor™ combines a High Dynamic Range (HDR) weld camera that can clearly capture the torch, weld arc, and surrounding environment with powerful machine vision measurement software that enables real-time monitoring of the weld seam size, torch tip location, and relative offset between the torch tip and its seam. The SeamMonitor™ provides a system solution for use on TIG tube mills providing warning and error alerts on key measurements to operators or external equipment for process control. The system includes data analysis tools and onscreen graphing of key measurements that can be sent to external equipment using OPC, analog or digital interfaces.

Indian Steel Industry's Future: Green Steel Mandatory

Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation, shared the possibility of mandating green steel manufacturing, and information about MoUs signed towards the specialty steel capacity addition by 25 million tonnes at INR 30,000 crore investment.

Apr 19, 2023

M

r. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Indian Union Minister of

Steel and Civil Aviation, in his recent public address, indicated mandatory production of green steel by steel manufacturers as a near-future possibility. He commented, "In the near future, the government of the day may contemplate looking at putting in place processes for steel producers to dedicate a percentage of their production to make green steel ensuring greater usage of the same in government projects."

During his address, Mr. Scindia shared that his ministry has signed 57 MoUs with 27 companies for specialty steel under the PLI scheme, which will contribute to India's goal of becoming the third-largest economy by 2030-31. These deals will generate an investment of INR 30,000 crores to add 25 million tonnes of specialty steel capacity in the next five years. He further shared, "The steel ministry is in the process of aligning up policies with the Gati Shakti Master Plan which will complement the INR 100 lakh crore investment plan for infrastructure development over the next five years; this will boost the demand for steel in various sectors thereby enhancing steel usage.”

Mr. Scindia used the example of Tata Steel Europe using hydrogen-based steel making and Hisarnar technology, along with CCUS (Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage) method, one of the promising manufacturing practices, “The commercialization of these technologies might take some time. During the interim period, continuous improvement shall be made in the existing technologies to yield efficiency and reduce carbon footprint."

The Xiris SeamMonitor™ with a Seam in Alignment. Note the Seam Position of -0.26 mm in the SeamMonitor™ Results tab to the right.

Mandatory Green Steel Manufacturing is in India's Near Future

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