The prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today sought to find effective ways and means to improve energy efficiency and limit environmental pollution in the steel industry even as steel production is increased.

Speaking at an award function in New Delhi , he urged the steel industry to ensure that the latest energy efficient technologies are adopted in modernization and expansion programmes. He said the Government has launched the Perform, Achieve and Trade Scheme under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency. He expressed hope that the steel industry will work with the government to achieve the targets set under this scheme.

Dr. Singh ,however,expressed dissatisfaction that despite such impressive progress, per capita steel production of the country still lags substantially behind the global average of 215 kilogram.

Dr.Singh also gave away the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best integrated steel plant in India to Bhilai Steel Plant, SAIL for 2009-10 and TATA Steel Limited for 2008-09.