The Union Government has a target to produce 50 per cent of the country’s steel in Odisha alone, informed Union Steel Secretary Aruna Sharma at a programme organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here.
“Odisha produces 202 to 205 million tons of steel every year. But consumption level of steel in the State is very low. To increase the steel production, we must have to set up downstream industries within the State for value addition of steel,” said Sharma.
Stating that companies having own captive mines make 200-300 per cent profits and others only 18-20 per cent, she said she would take up the matter with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to find out possible solution.
Regarding solar power project, she suggested for setting up big projects so that investors would be benefitted besides higher output.
ICC chairman Vishal Agrawal raised a few problems being faced by steel industries in the State, including delay in environment and forest clearance and iron ore pricing.
Among others, Industries Principal Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, Steel and Mines Principal Secretary RK Sharma, and ICC Odisha member Manish Kharbanda were present.