Tata Steel completes the first multi-modal shipment of TMT bars from West Bengal to Tripura via Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route

~ The first Company in the Indian steel industry to transport goods to Tripura using inland waterways via Bangladesh's Ashuganj port ~ 

~ 960 tonnes of Steel TMT bars shipped from West Bengal's Haldia Port to Agartala ~

Tata Steel successfully completed the first multi-modal shipment of 960 tonnes of steel TMT bars from West Bengal's Haldia Port to Tripura's Agartala, reiterating its commitment to a sustainable future.

On January 8, 2023, the barge "MV Bulker I" was flagged off from the Haldia port. The first leg of the journey was through the inland waterways using Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route to the transfer point at Ashuganj port in Bangladesh. The bars were then unloaded and the second leg transportation via road to a Land Port Authority of India warehouse at Agartala at the India-Bangladesh border was carried out. In the third and final leg of the journey, trucks were used to transship goods from this warehouse to the distributor's warehouse in Agartala. Tata Martrade International Logistics Limited (TMILL) was in-charge of the entire logistics management for this maiden voyage. The entire transportation from flag-off to the receiving of material at distributor’s warehouse was completed in 17 days.

The flag-off event was virtually inaugurated by Peeyush Gupta, Vice President GSP and Supply Chain, Tata Steel. D. Samanta of TM International Logistics Limited (TMILL) and A.K. Mahapatra, GM (Traffic), Haldia Dock Complex also joined the ceremony.

Peeyush Gupta, Vice President, GSP and Supply Chain, Tata Steel, said: “The Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route serves as a reliable integrated logistics solution for both Bangladesh and India to use inland waterways and will further help expand our consumer reach to better serve the growing North-Eastern market. The route exemplifies efficient utilisation of the river-sea combination as a mode of transport and multimodal movement. This endeavour supports the objectives of the PM's Gati Shakti programme and is an initiative to lower the Company’s Scope 3 carbon footprint and will contribute to decarbonising the steel sector.”

Ranjan Sinha, Chief Group Shipping, Tata Steel, said: “Tata Steel along with the TMILL team is proud of the efforts undertaken in the execution of this shipment. The Company hopes to shorten the timelines even further to serve its clients. The possibility of using this route to service additional, smaller-lot regions along the river is also worth exploring. The Indo Bangladesh Protocol route is more economical as well as environmentally more responsible.”

Earlier in 2022, the Company had successfully shipped 1,800 tonnes of finished steel products from Haldia Port in West Bengal to Pandu Port in Assam using the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route via the Brahmaputra River. The commencement of the use of Inland Waterways, a historic initiative to decarbonise the steel industry and the nation, was flagged off by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Ministry of Ayush.

India's desire to realise its ambitions envisioned under the National Logistics Policy relies heavily on the utilisation of multimodal transportation, which would include an interconnected inland waterways system. This will lessen the amount of material moved through chicken neck, hence reducing the overall distance and reliance on rail and road, as well as aid in the decarbonisation of the logistics sector.

About Tata Steel

Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes per annum. It is one of the world's most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world. The group recorded a consolidated turnover of US $ 32.83 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2022.

A Great Place to Work-Certified^TM organisation, Tata Steel Limited, together with its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000. Tata Steel has been a part of the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012 and has been consistently ranked amongst top 10 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016. Besides being a member of ResponsibleSteel^TM, worldsteel’s Climate Action Programme and World Economic Forum’s Global Parity Alliance, Tata Steel has won several awards and recognitions including the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar and IJmuiden Plants, and Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17. The Company, ranked as India’s most valuable Metals & Mining brand by Brand Finance, featured amongst CII Top 25 innovative Indian Companies in 2021 and top 10 sustainable organisations of India Hurun Research Institute in the 2021 Capri Global Capital Hurun India Impact 50, received Steel Sustainability Champion recognition from worldsteel for five years in a row, ‘Most Ethical Company’ award 2021 from Ethisphere Institute, RIMS India ERM Award of Distinction 2021, Masters of Risk - Metals & Mining Sector recognition at The India Risk Management Awards for the sixth consecutive year, and Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting FY20 from ICAI, among several others.

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Statements in this press release describing the Company’s performance may be “forward looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those directly or indirectly expressed, inferred or implied. Important factors that could make a difference to the Company’s operations include, among others, economic conditions affecting demand/ supply and price conditions in the domestic and overseas markets in which the Company operates, changes in or due to the environment, Government regulations, laws, statutes, judicial pronouncements and/ or other incidental factors.

For media enquiries contact:

Sarvesh Kumar

Chief, Corporate Communications - Tata Steel

E-mail: sarvesh.kumar@tatasteel.com