HLA okays projects worth Rs 26,076 cr

Nalco gets nod for new smelter complex

The High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday gave its nod to six new projects with combined investment of Rs 26,076.89 crore.

Among the projects that got the HLCA’s approval include a 0.5 million tonne per annum new smelter cum 1,260 MW power plant complex proposed by navratna firm National Aluminium Company (Nalco). The project, to come up over 2,500 acres land at Kepse in Sundergarh district, will cost Rs 16,345.89 crore.

“Nalco’s new smelter requires 50 cusecs of water and they will draw it from the Hirakud reservoir. The project will employ 4,000 persons directly,” said chief secretary B K Patnaik.

Nalco currently runs a 0.46 mtpa smelter and 1,200 MW CPP at Angul. It aimed to expand capacity of this plant to 0.57 mtpa and that of CPP to 1,700 MW in the course of its third phase expansion being taken up at a cost of Rs 7,500 crore.

The HLCA also approved the establishment of a coal-based ammonia plant by Chennai-based Bharat Coal Chemicals Ltd near Paradeep at a cost of Rs 1,575 crore. The plant will have the capacity to produce 346,000 tonnes of ammonia per annum. The project proponent will be supplying ammonia to fertiliser makers in Paradeep area like Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL) and Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (Iffco), thereby reducing their dependence on imports.

The ammonia plant needs 200 acres land and 12.5 cusecs of water to be drawn from Mahanadi river in Bhutmundei region. The project will offer direct employment for 408 persons.

Uttam Galva Steel’s two mtpa HR (hot rolled) coil unit proposed at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district also got the nod of HLCA. The unit will be set up at an approximate investment of Rs 4,000 crore. Besides offering direct jobs to 308 people, the unit is expected to promote downstream industries.

A 750 MW gas-based power plant, the first of its kind in Odisha, proposed by Hyderabad-based VBC Group was also approved by the HLCA. This project will be set up at an undecided location in Kendrapara district at an investment of Rs 2,876 crore. Land requirement for the project is pegged at 150 acres with direct employment potential of 72.

Bhusan Steel’s 12 mtpa iron ore beneficiation plant in Keonjhar district and four mtpa pellet plant at Jalaposi in the same district was cleared by the HLCA. The iron ore after being beneficiated will be pumped through a slurry pipeline to the company's operating steel plant at Meramundali near Angul. The company is investing Rs 1,280 crore on the two projects, the direct manpower for which is estimated at 115.

A proposal for the Rs 100 crore ‘energy academy’ by Sonepur Energy & Oil Ltd, a special purpose vehicle formed by Hyderabad-based green energy producer Greenko Group was also okayed by HLCA. The academy will be set up at a suitable location in Ganjam distirct.