John Cockerill and the Government of Maharashtra sign a MoU to develop Gadchiroli as a future green steel manufacturing hub

John Cockerill took part in Belgium’s official visit to India, where discussions focused on defense and industry. On this occasion, the Government of Maharashtra and John Cockerill India Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities for the development and adoption of advanced technologies for green iron and green steel production in Maharashtra, India. The MoU will support the evaluation of technology pathways aligned with Maharashtra’s green industrial development objectives and its ambition to develop Gadchiroli as a future Green Steel Manufacturing Hub.

The MoU was signed on 2 September 2026 in the presence of Shri Jaykumar Rawal, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Marketing and Protocol, Government of Maharashtra, between Dr. P. Anbalagan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Maharashtra; Dr. Rajesh Gawande, Secretary, Department of Protocol, FDI & Diaspora Outreach, Government of Maharashtra; and Mr. Frederic Martin, Managing Director, John Cockerill India Limited.

The formal exchange of the signed MoU took place on 4 September 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, during the two-day visit of H.E. Mr. Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium, to India.

The exchange was held between Mr. Jean-Luc Maurange, Group CEO, John Cockerill, and Dr. P. Anbalagan, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, and Dr. Rajesh Gawande, Secretary, Department of Protocol, FDI & Diaspora Outreach, in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, and H.E. Mr. Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium.

The collaboration brings together John Cockerill’s global expertise in advanced ironmaking and low carbon technologies, Maharashtra’s mineral resources and industrial capabilities, and India’s growing focus on industrial decarbonisation. The objective is to explore new pathways for sustainable steel production while supporting knowledge sharing, technology development and skill building with relevant institutions and stakeholders in Maharashtra.

A key focus of the collaboration will be to explore opportunities for the development of Gadchiroli as a Green Steel Manufacturing Hub. Through this MoU, John Cockerill will bring its expertise in advanced low carbon ironmaking technologies, supported by its engineering and industrial capabilities in India.

This combination of technology expertise, regional resources and industrial capabilities will support the exploration of technology pathways suited to Maharashtra’s requirements and contribute to the development of capabilities around emerging green steel technologies.

The decarbonisation of steel production is an important element of the global transition towards more sustainable industry. As India continues to strengthen its industrial and manufacturing capabilities, advanced technologies will play an important role in reducing the environmental footprint of steel production.

John Cockerill’s advanced low carbon ironmaking solutions can contribute to this transition by enabling the exploration of innovative approaches to iron production with a lower carbon footprint.

The partnership will explore opportunities to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable steel industry by combining Maharashtra’s industrial capabilities and investment potential with John Cockerill’s global technology expertise.

The formal exchange of the MoU during the visit of the Belgian Prime Minister to India highlights the potential of international technology partnerships in supporting India’s industrial transformation.

The presence of H.E. Mr. Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium; Hon’ble Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra; and Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, provided an important platform to highlight opportunities for cooperation between Belgium and India in advanced manufacturing, sustainable technologies and industrial development.

The partnership builds on the growing relationship between Belgium and India and follows discussions around opportunities to bring advanced industrial technologies and capabilities to Maharashtra.

With John Cockerill’s long standing presence in India and global experience in steel technologies, the company is well positioned to contribute to the exploration of new technology pathways for India’s evolving green steel ecosystem.

This MoU brings together Maharashtra’s industrial and resource potential with John Cockerill’s global technology expertise, creating a platform to explore the future of green iron and green steel production in the state, with a focus on developing local capabilities and supporting sustainable industrial growth.