Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while addressing the inaugural session of “Conclave on Capital Goods for Steel Sector: Manufacture in India”, organised by the Union Steel Ministry here on Tuesday, said that Odisha produces about half of the country’s iron ore, which makes it an ideal location for setting up steel industries.
The installed capacity of crude steel making in Odisha has now grown to 33 million tonnes (MT) per annum from just 4 MT per annum in 1999-2000, he said.
“Odisha’s natural strength lies in being a minerals-rich State. This State contributes nearly 14% of the total mineral productions in India. Over the past two decades, my Government is focussed on enhancing the production level of the key minerals along with manufacturing of value-added products in the State,” Patnaik said.
“Odisha has emerged as the major steel hub of the country. Odisha has always been a preferred destination for metal sector investment; and to further enhance the downstream eco-system in the steel sector of the State, my Government is bringing out a roadmap ‘Vision 2030’ for development of downstream units with a focus to achieve more than 50% value addition to the primary metal produced in the State. This would become the blueprint for attracting downstream units in the steel sector to the State,” said he.
“My State is taking significant steps in building the support infrastructure for development of industries. Over the last 18 years, our port handling capacity has increased by tenfold to 190 million metric tonnes per annum. Power generation capacity has increased more than threefold; and road network has increased over 50% during this period which are key considerations for growth of the steel sector,” Patnaik added.
Union Minister of Steel Chaudhary Birendra Singh said that Odisha with all such steelmaking ingredients like coal, power, port capacity, iron ore, manganese and water and big industrial development potential is all set to be the country’s steel manufacturing hub.
"I would request Honb'le Naveen Patnaik Ji to come forward and make this happen as you have already three developed steel producing centres like Angul, Kalinganagar, Rourkela," Singh said.
Union Petroleum and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Odisha has emerged as the central point in the country in the steel sector capital goods and has all opportunities to outdo competitors like Dubai and Singapore.
“Odisha had acquired capital goods hundreds years ago. Temples at Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar carry long history of the State’s capital goods,” said Pradhan.
Apart from steel sector, Odisha has also possibilities to go ahead in many sectors. “While 50 million tonne steel is being produced today, it would increase to 100 million in the next 10 years. Similarly, production of iron ore, coal, Alumunium and manganese will increase from 200 MT to 500 MT in coming years. Power generation and oil production will enhance to 25,000 MW and 20 MT, respectively,” said Pradhan.