Green nod for Tata Steel's Rs 185 crore expansion project in Odisha

The total project cost will be about Rs 186 crore

Tata Steel has received green nod for expansion as well as setting up of two units at its Joda plant in Keonjhar district, Odisha, entailing an investment of over Rs 185 crore.

Based on the recommendation of the Expert Appraisal Committee, the Environment Ministry has "decided to grant environmental clearance to Tata Steel for expansion of Fe-Mn (Ferro Manganese) alloy plant from 0.0504 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 0.06 MTPA at Joda", a senior official said.

Besides, it has got go-ahead for addition of 0.06 MTPA silico-manganese plant and 0.05 MTPA manganese sinter plant in existing ferro alloy plant at Joda, Koenjhar district in Odisha, the official added.

The total project cost will be about Rs 185.58 crore, providing employment to about 1,500-2,000 people during the construction and for about 156 persons during operations.

The approval has been given with some specific conditions including developing green belt in 33 per cent of plant area and maintaining of gaseous emissions within permissible limits among others, the official said.

The company is expanding the ferro alloys production keeping in view the country's rising steel demand, which is expected to touch 193 MT in 2020.

Ferro alloy plant at Joda was commissioned in 1957 to cater to the manganese alloy requirements of Tata Steel works at Jamshedpur. Initially, the plant produced both, Fe-Mn and Silico Manganese (Si-Mn). Subsequently, it was decided to produce only Fe-Mn at Joda in 2000.

Currently, Tata Steel produces its entire requirement of Fe-Mn from captive plant and sells a part in the market.

Tata Steel, largest producer of manganese alloys in India, operates three ferro alloy plants at Joda and Bamnipal in Keonjhar district and one unit at Attgarh, Cuttack district in Odisha. It operates captive manganese ore mines in Joda.