Tata Steel has become the first Indian steelmaker to develop hydrogen‑compliant API X65 grade pipes, capable of transporting 100 per cent gaseous hydrogen at 100 bar pressure, marking a vital step in building the nation’s clean‑energy infrastructure. Manufactured entirely in-house—from hot‑rolled steel at Kalinganagar to pipe processing at Khopoli-the piping underwent rigorous qualification testing at Italy’s RINA‑CSM lab, meeting all international standards for hydrogen transport.
Prabhat Kumar, Vice‑President, Marketing & Sales (Flat Products), emphasised that this achievement demonstrates Tata Steel’s mastery in delivering critical energy infrastructure technology domestically. He stated it strengthens the company’s ability to support India’s National Hydrogen Mission, which targets production of at least 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen per annum by 2030, potentially doubling to 10 million with export preparedness.
This breakthrough follows Tata Steel’s prior milestone as the first Indian firm to manufacture hot‑rolled steel suitable for hydrogen service in 2024, reaffirming its decade‑long R&D commitment to sustainable steel solutions. Industry analysts anticipate a strong market for hydrogen‑compliant steel pipes, with expected demand beginning 2026–27 and reaching approximately 350,000 tonnes over five to seven years.
Experts point out that steel pipelines offer a cost‑effective and scalable option for long‑distance hydrogen transportation compared to alternative methods, making them essential to infrastructure build‑out. With carbon capture, industrial decarbonisation, and green hydrogen integration gaining policy momentum, Tata Steel’s innovation is expected to accelerate pipeline projects supporting sectors such as power generation, mobility, and heavy industry.
By producing internationally certified hydrogen pipelines domestically, Tata Steel not only reduces dependency on imports but also enhances India’s strategic autonomy in clean‑energy infrastructure-bolstering its path toward carbon neutrality and industrial resilience.
