Major Penalty of ₹2,392 Crores Imposed on Ratan Tata's Company, A Setback for Noel Tata

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Tata Group has encountered a significant setback as Tata Steel Nederland has been fined ₹240 crores (€27 million) by the Dutch Environmental Service (OD) for failing to meet emission standards. The penalty affects two of the company’s plants, and regulators have raised the possibility of revoking the operating license for one of the facilities if corrective actions are not taken.

**Regulators Set Deadline for Emission Reduction**

The I    Jmuiden plant has been given a one-year deadline by Dutch authorities to reduce emissions from its two implicated plants. The Environmental Department has warned that failure to meet the emission norms could result in the loss of the operating license for one of the plants.

In a press release dated December 19, Tata Steel Nederland expressed its willingness to engage in discussions with the OD regarding the recent decisions, while emphasizing the significant progress it has made in environmental compliance. "We believe we are on the right path to advancing these facilities. However, we strongly disagree with the notice’s details and reasoning. We aim to reopen discussions with the OD, the province, and other relevant stakeholders," the company stated. The company described the decision-making process as "painful" and criticized the penalty as "extremely high." It also raised concerns about the reliability and accuracy of the assessments leading to the fine, calling them "inadequate and poorly conducted."

**Plans for Emission Reduction and Hydrogen-Based Steelmaking**

Tata Steel Nederland has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions by 5 million tonnes annually by 2030 through an accelerated transition process, including adopting hydrogen-based steelmaking. However, the company faces challenges in meeting the regulators’ eight-week recovery timeline, which it has deemed impractical. The shift to greener fuel sources is part of Tata Steel’s long-term strategy but depends heavily on government support. Meanwhile, the company has six weeks to outline and submit a rectification plan to comply with regulatory standards and avoid further repercussions.