Govt mulls new BIS norms for Alang

The government is moving to relax Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) rules for the Alang-Sosiya ship-recycling yard, a critical step toward reviving the world’s largest shipbreaking hub. Previous restrictions banned recovered ship plates from being used in mainstream re-rolled products like TMT bars, forcing recyclers to sell high-quality steel as cheaper melting scrap and causing a 20-year low of just 113 ships in the 2024-25 fiscal year. To counter this, new reforms propose allowing ship-recycled steel based on mechanical testing rather than strict metallurgical traceability. This policy shift aligns with India’s 2026 vision to strengthen its circular economy, targeting a capacity doubling from 4.5 million to 9 million Light Displacement Tonnage (LDT) by 2035. Despite global headwinds, Alang recorded a 21% surge in ship arrivals in late 2025, buoyed by the fact that over 110 yards are now Hong Kong Convention compliant. By easing BIS norms, the government aims to recover nearly 99.95% of materials from decommissioned vessels, positioning Alang as a global benchmark for sustainable green steel, as per a report.

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