Will construction/infrastructure be lifeline for ailing steel? The average share of the construction sector in global steel consumption, at around 50-55 percent, implies that irrespective of the stage of growth of the economy, revival of steel demand critically hinges on development and expansion of this sector. The same formula can be applied to the Indian scenario. It is expected that with improved ease of doing business in India, both foreign and domestic investment will lead to a pick-up in construction and manufacturing. Steel Insights’ Cover Story explores. Special Feature: Re-opening of some key iron ore mines in the top producing states of Odisha and Karnataka would increase production in India this fiscal, feel industry watchers. Iron ore output in the country is seen at 153 mt by the close of this fiscal, higher than 123 mt logged in FY15 Interview: The need of the hour is to be self-sufficient in key raw materials to trigger the competitive advantages for reaching 300 mt by 2025. One key route out of the mess could be auction of coking coal mines to the non-regulated sector. Hence, JSW Steel is spearheading a plan to revive the Jharia coking coal mines where all stakeholders will be given a fair deal, says Seshagiri Rao MVS, Jt MD & Group CFO, JSW Steel Interview: It may be difficult to visualise a recovery in coal prices now but, one year on, there could be a slight firmness, as the closure of mines in Australia and the US start to impact supply, says Dr Neil J Bristow, MD of Australia-based H&W Worldwide Consulting Ltd Pty. Such a recovery would, apparently, start with the coking coal market before it catches up with thermal coal.