ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India has designed and manufactured the India’s first indigenously developed specialist-grade steel plates (16Mo3) for use in Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL)'s heavy water reactors.

These special steel plates were shipped after a ceremony at AM/NS India’s Hazira steel plant on 29 June.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, the plates had been developed in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

“This is the first time that a domestic supplier has been able to meet the high raw material and manufacturing criteria laid down by NPCIL for critical-class equipment of this grade. Previously, such plates were acquired from overseas,” an official told the Times of India. 

The 16Mo3-grade plates are among the most critical internal components of steam generators, operating under extreme temperature, pressure and radioactive conditions.