In a surprise move, Jindal Steel and Power limited (JSPl) CMD Naveen Jindal on Wednesday hinted that the company might reconsider establishment of its coal-to-liquid (CTl) project at Angul if coal is made available.A few days ago, Jindal had reportedly said that the proposed CTl project was scrapped due to lack of coal. “When the coal allocation is scrapped, the project is gone,” media reports had quoted him saying.
After meeting Chief Secretary GC Pati here, Jindal said, “At the moment, there is no clarity on coal linkage for the project. Something concrete can be said only after there is some clarity on the issue.”He said the State Government cannot be blamed for coal block cancellation. “It was the Supreme Court which cancelled all allotments made as per the policy followed by successive and democratically elected Governments over the last 20 years,” he said.
Regarding the 2.5 MT-capacity steel plant in Angul, Jindal said the company is trying to import coal from outside the State.He said a delegation of the Indian Steel Association (ISA) would soon meet the Chief Secretary and discuss ways to ensure supply of raw material to steelmakers which have set up or are in the process of setting up steel plants in the State.