Tata Steel announced on Wednesday that it has become India's first steel company to develop pipes specifically designed for hydrogen transportation, marking a significant achievement in the country’s hydrogen mission. The pipes were manufactured using steel produced at Tata Steel's Kalinganagar plant and processed at its Khopoli facility. According to the company, these pipes have successfully met all critical properties required for the safe transportation of hydrogen.
The entire technology development process—from designing and manufacturing hot-rolled steel to producing the final pipes—was completed in-house. This underscores Tata Steel’s capabilities in delivering essential energy infrastructure. In 2024, the company had already set a precedent by becoming the first Indian steel manufacturer to produce hot-rolled steel for gaseous hydrogen transportation.
The hydrogen qualification tests for these pipes were conducted at RINA-CSM S.p.A in Italy, a globally recognized approving agency for hydrogen-related testing and characterization. Tata Steel stated that the newly developed hydrogen-compliant API X65 grade pipes are capable of transporting 100 percent pure gaseous hydrogen under high pressure (100 bar).
Prabhat Kumar, Vice President of Marketing & Sales (Flat Products) at Tata Steel, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation in critical steel technologies. He noted that the successful testing of the new electric resistance welded (ERW) pipes reflects Tata Steel’s ability to support the domestic energy sector with advanced physical infrastructure. He also highlighted that Tata Steel is proud to contribute to India's National Hydrogen Mission, which is a key pillar in the country’s clean energy transition.
Kumar further stated that Tata Steel is honored to be the first Indian steel company to take on this challenge and deliver products that cater to both domestic and global demand for specialized hydrogen transportation pipes. The company also affirmed its continued investment in research and development to create innovative and sustainable solutions for hydrogen transportation and storage.