Automation gains equal to tariff protections, say industry leaders
New Delhi, August 28, 2025: India’s mining and metals sector could achieve 10–15% efficiency gains through digitalisation and automation, according to a new FICCI-CRISIL report unveiled at FICCI’s Conference on Automation, Digitalisation & Technology Integration in Mining & Metals.
Experts said the productivity boost would match the benefits of earlier import safeguard duties, strengthening competitiveness as the sector faces stricter sustainability norms, including the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism.
Industry leaders including Nagendra Nath Sinha (Rodic Digital & Advisory), Sanjay Singh (Jindal Steel), Arun Misra (Vedanta Ltd), and Pankaj Satija (Tata Steel) highlighted the need for AI, robotics, IoT, and predictive analytics to improve efficiency, sustainability, and safety, while stressing that leadership commitment and workforce training are vital for successful implementation.