35 steel projects start production in Odisha; two scrapped their projects

Bhubaneswar: Odisha steel and mines minister Prafulla Mallick on Friday said 35 steel making companies have started production from their projects in the state.

“Out of 49 companies, which have signed the memorandum of understandings with the state government, 35 have started production,” said Mallick informed the state Assembly.

Two companies-Arcelor Mittal and Maharashtra Seamless Ltd-have withdrawn from their projects.

Posco has also not made any progress to set up its $12 billion steel plant even though the state government has allocated 1880 acres land in Jagatsinghpur district, said Mallick.

Posco India, touted as the country’s largest foreign direct investment (FDI) , that is mired in controversy for the last nearly 11 years, has put the project on hold.

The minister said the government has got information from media reports that Posco has temporarily put the project on hold.

He said the South Korean steel giant has not officially communicated the state government in this regard.

The minister also informed that one pelletisation plant has started production.

The state government had signed a MoU with the plant.