Dr. Urvesh Vala, L&T Energy Hydrocarbon Onshore, Calls for Stronger Domestic Stainless Steel Manufacturing for EPC Projects
As India’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) sector expands across onshore, offshore, refinery and process industries, strengthening domestic stainless steel manufacturing will be critical to meeting increasingly specialised material requirements, believes Dr. Urvesh Vala, Head of Material Engineering and Technology, L&T Energy Hydrocarbon Onshore.
Speaking at the event, Vala highlighted the need for greater understanding of India’s stainless steel manufacturing capabilities, particularly for projects requiring high-quality and specialised grades. For EPC companies operating across refinery, fabrication and other industrial applications, reliable access to the right material remains a key requirement.
“We want that this particular stainless steel production with respect to manufacturing in India can improve and we get a proper quality of steel which we need for our refinery and other fabrications requirements,” said Vala.
He pointed to the growing requirement for specialised stainless steel in projects such as fertiliser plants, where materials need to be fabricated and manufactured to meet specific project demands. Beyond conventional stainless steel requirements, he stressed the importance of evaluating the availability of specialty steels being produced in India and identifying manufacturers capable of meeting these needs.
For Vala, industry platforms can play an important role in connecting EPC companies with domestic manufacturers and creating opportunities for deeper collaboration. Greater engagement with Indian vendors, he said, can help align manufacturing capabilities with project requirements while supporting the broader growth of the country’s industrial ecosystem.
As demand for specialised materials grows, stronger collaboration between stainless steel manufacturers and EPC companies could help build a more capable and responsive domestic supply chain.
