John Cockerill’s CEO François Michel meets major stakeholders on mission to India

A global player in the energy transition, the John Cockerill Group organized a mission to India this week. As John Cockerill expands its presence in the country and on the sidelines of meetings with its teams in Mumbai, the Group CEO François Michel met with key stakeholders.

The Ministry of Steel and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy received a delegation from the Group. Led by CEO François Michel, the delegation comprising Vivek Bhide (Regional President for India) and Caroline Crèvecoeur (Chief of Staff) presented John Cockerill’s technological expertise for more sustainable steel production, development of green hydrogen in the region and wider access to renewable energies. They discussed the benefits and opportunities of supporting the country’s environmental transition.

They recalled two major initiatives in India, each contributing to decarbonizing the country’s economy and fighting against climate change. The Group is delivering to the top major Indian steel makers, as ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, JSW and Jindal Steel Odisha, steel processing lines featuring the most advanced technologies in terms of energy efficiency, zinc consumption optimization and corrosion resistance. John Cockerill also entered in a strategic partnership with the Indian renewable energy leader Greenko to develop a hydrogen industry in the country, which is based on a future gigafactory of alkaline electrolysers.

“Is India John Cockerill’s next global decarbonisation hub?”

Francois Michel also participated in a panel conversation with Nivruti Rai, CEO of Invest India, at the Embassy of Belgium in New Delhi. He explained that John Cockerill is setting up its new hub in India, mainly dedicated to decarbonization, in order to meet the country’s major energy and environmental transition needs. The Group is expanding its presence in India with a growing number of new talents. “Our market is here, particularly in steel, hydrogen and energy. Our Group finds real talent in India, a democratic country with values close to our own“, he says.

The John Cockerill delegation is also very pleased with the attention paid by several industrial and financial partners. John Cockerill is building in India a long-term relationship based on trust, and these partnerships are fundamental. John Cockerill looks forward to discussions with these leading institutions and to working together to realize opportunities to contribute to India’s energy transition. The Group would like to thank the Belgian Embassy and the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency for their warm welcome and strong support throughout the visit.