PM likely to inaugurate Vizag Steel's revamped unit in July

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the Rs 12,300-crore first phase expansion project of RINL's Vizag Steel Plant in the first week of July.

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) had initiated an expansion and modernisation plan at its Vizag facility to enhance its liquid steel capacity to 6.3 million tonne per annum (MTPA).

The project is complete and currently the plant is running tests and other necessary procedures, a source said.

"The plant will be commissioned next month and the Prime Minister is expected to visit Vizag in the first week of July to inaugurate the project and formally commission it," the source added.

Earlier this month, Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had told PTI: "RINL's expansion plan is over and trials has started. We have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the plant in July."

The plant produces about 3.6 MTPA liquid steel at present and once the inauguration is done the capacity will go to about 6.3 MTPA, he had said.

Vizag Steel Plant is the country's first shore based integrated steel plant and is known for its long steel products used in construction, manufacturing, automobiles, general engineering, etc.

Earlier the Prime Minister had urged the domestic industry to boost steel output to surpass China in order to become the biggest producer in the world.

While dedicating to the nation Rs 12,000-crore expansion project at SAIL's Rourkela Steel Plant, Modi had said India has surpassed the United States in production, but stood behind China and "we must go to the top.