Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is planning to set up three new greenfield pellet plants. A plant of 0.9 million tonnes per year capacity at Dalli mines in Chhattisgarh and a plant of around 1 million tonnes per year capacity at Gua mines in Jharkhand are being planned. There will no investment by SAIL for setting up these two plants. SAIL will provide iron ore fines to the parties who will set up the pellet plants and the parties will supply pellets to SAIL on 'conversion cost' basis.It has also been planned to set up another plant of 2 million tonnes per year capacity at Taldih mines in Orissa for which the total investment will be made by SAIL. The process for engagement of consultant has been initiated. The cost of setting up the pellet plant would be known after finalisation of the Detailed Project Report. An Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Steel) and comprising Secretaries of the concerned Ministries and the Chief Secretaries of the concerned State Governments has been set up to monitor and coordinate various issues concerning major steel investments in the country. Issues relating to land acquisition and iron ore linkages are key factors to be settled before various investments proposals of new steel projects progress. The Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) will also be addressing some of these key issues confronting fresh steel investment proposals. The Ministry co-ordinates and recommends. Land acquisition is done by the State Government. Government of India has also declared a new National Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy 2007, which is expected to ease problems relating to the acquisition of land for such plants. This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel Dr. Akhilesh Das in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Source: PIB
23rd November, 2007