■ Vision 2030’ of making Odisha ‘Steel Hub of India
Odisha announcement creates ripples in Italy

New Delhi, Aug 11 (Pratapaditya Mishra) Last month in July in a major success of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s ‘Vision 2030’ of making Odisha ‘Steel Hub of India’, the state’s High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) issued in-principle approval to five major industrial projects to the tune of Rs 1,46,172 crores in metal and metal downstream sectors.The mega investment proposals were in the metal sector starting from beneficiation to manufacturing of pellets, iron, steel, stainless steel, rolled products as well as cement utilising waste products like slag and fly ash from other industries. After approving the projects, the Chief Ministerhas put emphasis on the importance of accelerating the growth of industries in the state and has directed all the departments and agencies of the state government to work in a coordinated manner to achieve the goals of rapid industrial growth. Chief Secretary has been assigned to review the progress of these projects and updatethe Chief Minister on a regular basis.The policy of setting up mega plants, majorly steel plants, is a culmination of the efforts of the government towards bringing in investors for wealth creation and employment generation through supportive policy reforms such as the National Steel Policy as well as facilitative infrastructure.

Amongst the five cleared projects, JSPL’s investment in Angul-based unit stands unique. With this Odisha will host the world’s largest single-location steel plant. This will be the result of Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL)’s investment of Rs 24,652 crore for the expansion of its Angul-based unit, as part of JSPL’s overall Rs.1,00,670 crore investments in the State.“We aim to produce 8.0-8.5 million tonnes of steel in financial year 2021-22 in line with our core philosophy of nation building and working towards a self-reliant India,” VR Sharma, Managing Director, stated. “This investment will take JSPL’s total investment to Rs.1,00,670 crore (in coming ten years), making it the largest single location steel plant capacity in the world,” he said further. The expansion of Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL) Angul plant is expected to produce 25.2 million tonnes per annum against an investment of Rs.24,652 crore. The present capacity of the plant is 6 million tonnes per annum, although its approved proposed capacity is 18.6 million tonnes.This project has the potential to create employment opportunities for over 24,350 persons in two phases.

Other proposals of JSPL are expansion project of Jindal Stainless Steel Limited’s capacity from 1.1 MTPA to 3.2 MTPA and Cold Rolling Mill capacity from 0.8 MTPA to 2.4 MTPA with an investment of Rs 6,840 crore in Kalinganagar, Jajpur, also got the nod of the HLCA. This project will generate employment opportunities for over 2,236 persons. The announcement by Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik has its effect in Europe particularly in Italy. It has created the ripples there. Some of the big companies have already shown interest in collaborating with the industries in Odisha. JSPL’s mega single-plant investment in Angul is particularly praised by Mr Mario Bodini, CEO of Sideridraulic System SpA, an Italy-based leading international provider of technologies for water treatment in the steel making process is a major player in Europe. This Italian company has been a pioneer in metal development, with its innovative products in the hydraulic automation and water purification sectors. It takes its place alongside Danieli, which accompanied the company’s growth in steel, as well as other groups like Lucchini, Techint, Dalmine, Thissen Group, Arcelor Mittal and many others around the world.

Sideridraulic System is used in steel plant for water treatment plants, water-cooling systems, make-up water treatment equipment for the production of osmosed and demineralized water and biological treatment plants for industrial wastewater. “As Sideridraulic we are in charge of water treatment in Europe’s largest steel plant, ex Ilva Taranto in Italy, a full-cycle steel mill co-owned by Arcelor Mittal and Acciaierie d’Italia.” “On the grounds of our experience about the major industrial efforts it takes courage to expand and revamp a mega steel mill. We really admire JSPL’s challenge to create the world’s largest single location steel plant in Odisha”, said Mr Bodini. The city of Brescia, in which Mr. Bodini has his plant, is not only known for its architectural splendour but also it is very well known as the metallurgical hub and industrial activities. It is pioneer in transforming industrial waste to energy and catering to the needs of the residents. He is an important member of their industrial association and the likely collaboration of Sideridraulic with JSPL is being viewed with great interest by its other members. It is quite likely that others follow Mr. Bodini and this will certainly augur well for a Brescia-Odisha industrial collaboration in the future.