The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) reportedly wants to expand its footprint in Odisha with a major
investment on a mega greenfield integrated steel complex. The steel complex is to be located either in Keonjhar district or at Gopalpur in Ganjam district, knowledgeable sources said.
A six-million-tonne-per-annum (MTPA) steel complex is planned under the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) route. Earlier, the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) was given the mandate for the SPV.
With Odisha BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan taking over as Minister of Steel, chances are now bright for the major investment in the State by the SAIL, said the sources.
It was planned that the SAIL would set up four mega steel complexes in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Karnataka.
Prime Minister Modi had given green signal for the projects way back in 2015.
While the Tata Steel’s proposed steel complex is yet to come up at Gopalpur, sources said the SAIL is interested to set up its project in Odisha, and preferably at Gopalpur. Gopalpur has a port and is connected with railway line.
With the Gopalpur Port running in full swing, setting up of a steel complex would be beneficial for importing raw materials and exporting finished products thorough sea route, which is cheaper.
Way back on December 30, 1995, former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao had laid foundation-stone for a 2.5-MTPA plant of the Tata Steel at Gopalpur. The Tata Steel had acquired 4,000 acres of land for the plant in an area between Gopalpur and Chamakhandi, apart from 1,000 acres for a rehabilitation colony at Luharjar village in Brahmapur tehsil. But setting up of the project by the Tata Steel has not been materialised due to various reasons.