Government to rope in Nippon to train SAIL staff

The government today said it was working on a technical collaboration between state-owned SAIL and Japan’s Nippon Steel for training the PSU’s staff working on a Rs 70,000-crore capacity expansion programme.

“We met Nippon Steel officials in Japan. We asked them if they can train our people (SAIL officials) and enhance their technical skills. We are keen to have such collaborations with them at present,” Steel Secretary Atul Chaturvedi said.

SAIL had a manpower strength of 116,000 as on April 1, 2010. In India, Nippon Steel is already in pact with Tata Steel to produce autograde steel.

Meanwhile, the secretary, who recently led a delegation comprising SAIL Chairman S K Roongta, among others, to South Korea and Japan, said that an agreement between SAIL and Posco to set up steel plants in India is expected by September.

“A deal between SAIL and Posco to set up steel plants in India under a joint venture could be signed in the next three-four months,” he added.

SAIL Chairman S K Roongta had yesterday said that it would set up two plants in alliance with Posco and is “in serious stages of discussions” on the project.

Besides Posco and Nippon, SAIL is also in talks with ArcelorMittal and Tata Steel for setting steel plants in the country as its aims to raise annual production capacity to 60 million tonnes by 2020 from 14 million tonnes at present.

Chaturvedi said SAIL would set up a plant with an annual production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes in JV with Posco using its Finex technology, which makes steel on iron ore fines and non-coking coal, at Bokaro in Jharkhand.

“Posco is seeking a majority stake in the JV plant to come at Jharkhand. We are not averse to that. More meeting will be held between both the companies,” Chaturvedi added.

SAIL is also looking to build a Cold-Rolled Non-Oriented steel plant — products of which are mainly used by electrical sector — in Maharashtra, he said. Though he did not elaborate on the proposed investment, experts say both these projects could cost about Rs 15,000 crore.