Lakshmi Niwas Mittal meets Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to discuss Kendrapada steel plant project

BHUBANESWAR: Executive chairman of world’s largest steel producer ArcelorMittal, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal met chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the latter’s residence here on Saturday.
Official sources in the chief minister’s office said the meeting, second in the past six months, lasted for an hour during which Mittal discussed about the company’s proposed steel plant project at Kendrapada with the chief minister.
Mittal thanked the chief minister for all cooperation extended by the state government for the proposed steel complex and jetty project. Naveen, during the meeting, asked Mittal to expedite the company’s project in Odisha, said a senior government official.
On March 4, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited (AMNS India), a joint venture of ArcelorMittal and Japan’s Nippon Steel, had signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government to set up a 12 mtpa integrated steel complex in Kendrapada district with an investment of Rs 50,000 crore. The MoU agreement was signed in the presence of the chief minister and Mittal himself.
Officials of the state government and AMNS India have began the process of scouting land for the mega steel mill project. The company has identified around 6,500 acres of land as initial area of interest for the steel complex at Mahakalapada area in Kendrapada district.
The complex will come up near Mahakalapada, close to the proposed riverine port on Mahanadi and newly built Haridaspur-Paradip rail line. Sources said the company has engaged multiple agencies to prepare the pre-feasibility report of the steel complex and jetty project, which is expected soon.
Earlier on the day, Mittal visited Paradip port and the seaside villages near Mahakalapada on sea route, where the company has planned to set up its steel mill. The company has identified land available in Badatubi, Sanatubi, Hetamundia, Kansaradia, Nipania, Batighar and other seaside villages for its plant.
The AMNS India has already started investing around Rs 2,000 crore in expansion of its pellet plant at Paradip and beneficiation complex at Dabuna in Keonjhar and slurry pipeline, which it got after acquiring the Essar Steel following bankruptcy proceedings.
The company also has two iron ore mines—Thakurani block with a reserve of 179.26 MT and Ghoraburhani-Sagasahi iron ore block with a reserve of 78.24 MT, originally bagged by Essar.