Steel Minister assures of all-possible support for Jagdishpur SAIL Unit

Union Steel Minister Shri Beni Prasad Verma held a meeting with senior officials from SAIL here today for reviewing  the progress of the ongoing revival work of Jagdishpur SAIL Unit (JSU), the erstwhile plant of Malvika Steel at Jagdishpur (UP).  The Steel Minister envisaged an investment of around Rs. 10,000 crore for building a modern state-of-the-art steel making unit at Jagdishpur. He stated that Ministry of Petroleum at the Centre has been requested for extending support for natural gas resources. Shri Verma assured that all possible efforts shall be made to expedite the completion of the project, and said that he would personally take up the matter at the highest levels in the Government.

For Phase-2 development of JSU, discussions with M/s Kobe Steel of Japan were held by a Joint Task Force. Options for setting up a 1,000-MW gas-based power plant and a steel plant based on gas-based DRI (direct reduced iron-making) technology and using Electric Arc Furnace for steel making with value added products are being examined.

In response to a letter from SAIL Chairman Mr. C.S. Verma expressing solidarity with the quake-affected people of Japan, Kobe Steel has informed that the loss of life and infrastructure in Japan is huge. However, all employees and plants of Kobe Steel were almost unharmed. Therefore, they can continue the joint work of feasibility study on the new steel works at JSU, shared the Minister.

The assets of erstwhile Malvika Steel at Jagdishpur were acquired by SAIL in the year 2009 and registered in SAIL’s name in June 2010. For reviving this set-up and to supply value-added finished products to meet the demand of the region, initially four main units were proposed under Phase-1. Two units, viz., a Warehouse with a capacity of 12,000 tons per annum and a Galvanised Sheet Corrugation unit of capacity 13,000 tons per annum are in the final stages of completion and shall be ready for commissioning very soon. Work for two more units under the current phase, viz., a TMT Bar Mill of capacity 150,000 tons per annum and a Crash Barrier Manufacturing unit of capacity 10,000 tons per annum is progressing as per schedule and shall be completed by November 2011. The inputs of GP Sheets, Billets and HR sheets for all these facilities will be sourced from the existing plants and units of SAIL. The finished products will be despatched through road.

SAIL is carrying out many activities under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in and around Jagdishpur. The School inside the campus has been renovated with basic amenities and playground. 210 children have been registered with the school and are studying. Medical health check up camps organized in nearby villages/ schools regularly and necessary medicines disbursed. Medical health centre with one doctor and two pharmacists is functional; one ambulance is also in operation. Many patients are being examined daily in the health centre and free medicines are provided to them.