Iron and steel sector: Plans to reduce importing

Iron and steel sector is one of the important roles in implementing the nation to be a developed one. Iron and steel are fundamental for daily routine of the people. According to the statistics, 50 percent of these products have been used in construction, 16 percent in transportation, 14 percent each in production of machines and metals and 6 percent in kitchen, furniture and electrical usages globally. In the developing countries, Iron and steel have been used full percent in construction processes. As steel possesses better quality among the different metal products, it has gained high demand in these countries.

In Myanmar, about 3 million tonnes of steel have been used annually. But the production capacity of the state-owned and private steel millsis only about 1 million tonneswith full capacity operation. So, some 2 million tonnes of steel have to be imported to meet the local demand.

For reducing the import volume of steel, it is needed to produce high quality products by using ores and other related mineral pieces, applying the modern technology. At present, plans are underway to avoid impact on natural environment from the industrial wastes that emerge in the refining process ofores. Likewise, 12 rules and regulations for standardization of iron and steel products have been drafted. Moreover, the additional procedures will be added as necessary.