~ Acknowledgment for Tata Steel’s outstanding contribution to sustainable mining ~

Tata Steel’s Noamundi Iron Ore Mine was conferred with Abheraj Baldota Environment Award 2009-10 by the Federation of Indian Mining Industries (FIMI) today. This is the second time that the Noamundi Division is being conferred this prestigious award; the previous occasion being in 1990-91 as well. The award was presented for the Division’s outstanding contribution to the national goal of sustainable development through conservation of environment and natural resources.

The award was received by Mr D B Sundara Ramam, General Manager (Ores, Mines & Quarries), Tata Steel Ltd, from Mr B K Handique, Hon'ble Union Minister of Mines, at a function held in New Delhi. The prestigious award has reaffirmed faith in the company as an environmentally responsible and socially conscious enterprise.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ramam said "Tata Steel has pioneered Sustainable Mining. It strongly believes that conservation of ore, both at the mines and at steel works, creates value for tomorrow. At Noamundi Iron Ore Mine, we ensure that physiological, chemical and biological parameters of air, water, soil and plant material conform to the environmental quality standards for safe harmless & productive mining."

While Mr Handique congratulated Tata Steel on this feat, Dr N P Neotia, Advisor to FIMI, informed the august gathering on Tata Steel’s sustainable mining practices for which the company received the award today. Additionally, Mr D B Sundara Ramam was also honoured with a citation for his personal contribution to social and environment management.

About Noamundi Division and TATA Steel

The Noamundi Division of Tata Steel has adopted sustainable mining ever since its operations began in 1925. It therefore adheres to various operating practices for water conservation, air purification, noise reduction, energy conservation, land reclamation, amongst others. At the mines, Tata Steel has secured this position with a range of state-of-art environmental laboratory, external experts and work ambience conformation to environmental quality standards for safe, harmless and productive mining. The Division has been conferred the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award, FIMI's Gem Granite award, Greentech Award both for Safety and Environment, Ispat Suraksha Puruskar, besides others.

Established in 1907 as Asia's first integrated private sector steel company, Tata Steel Group is among the top ten global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of over 28 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). It is now the world's second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50 countries. The Tata Steel Group, with a turnover of US$ 23 billion in FY '09, has over 80,000 employees across five continents and is a Fortune 500 company. The Group’s vision is to be the world’s steel industry benchmark in “Value Creation” and “Corporate Citizenship” through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct. In 2008, Tata Steel India became the first integrated steel plant in the world, outside Japan, to be awarded the Deming Application Prize 2008 for excellence in Total Quality Management.