ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has become the first steel company in the world to manufacture the highest strength welded pipes equivalent to API 5L X100, marking a major breakthrough in offshore engineering and advanced steel manufacturing. The company said the welded pipes, produced in EQ70 grade steel, have received certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a leading maritime classification society that validates compliance with stringent global standards for safety, strength and structural integrity in marine applications.
Manufactured at the company’s flagship Hazira plant in Gujarat using Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) technology, the pipes are designed for critical offshore applications including oil and gas platforms, deepwater pipelines, offshore wind structures and jack-up rigs. The EQ70 grade steel offers a minimum yield strength of 690 megapascals along with high toughness, corrosion resistance and advanced weldability.
The company said the development supports the Centre’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Viksit Bharat’ initiatives by enabling indigenous production of ultra-high strength welded pipes that were earlier imported from Europe for specialised offshore projects. AM/NS India has already supplied a significant quantity of these welded pipes to a leading oil and gas producer in India. In Kolkata, the development could strengthen eastern India’s engineering, infrastructure and offshore supply chain sectors by improving domestic availability of specialised steel products. Market participants in Kolkata believe reduced dependence on imports and faster supply timelines may benefit fabrication, heavy engineering and energy-linked industries in the region. AM/NS India said the achievement reflects its focus on innovation backed by the technological expertise and R&D capabilities of parent companies ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel.
