ArcelorMittal, which recently scrapped its Rs 50,000-crore Odisha steel project, on Tuesday denied the charges of being “non-starter” and lacking greenfield experience, saying it had made good progress until faced with “physical resistance and violence on the ground”.
The company’s remarks came in the wake of allegations by the Odisha Government that the company was never really keen on the 12-million tonne-per-annum project and lacked track record of setting new projects.
ArcelorMittal reportedly said it accomplished certain important milestones like the completion of a feasibility report, an environmental impact assessment study and other relevant technical reports as well as holding eight Gram Sabhas. The Industrial Investment Promotion Corporation of Odisha carried out a review in 2010 and found it satisfactory up to that point of time.
The company claimed is has world-class expertise on setting up greenfield projects. It is pursuing a large greenfield project in liberia (Africa), which entails setting up a railway network of 270 km and development of a full-scale port, it said. In India, the company pointed out, it is continuing to pursue its greenfield projects in Jharkhand (12 MTPA) and Karnataka (6 MTPA).