Baldota Group to enter steel sector with ₹54,000-cr project in Karnataka

Renewable energy player Baldota Group on Thursday said it plans to foray into the steel sector with an investment of Rs 54,000 crore for setting up a project in Karnataka with up to 10.5 million tonnes of (MT) production capacity.

Once commissioned, the greenfield project will be the second largest steel plant in the state, creating lakhs of direct and indirect jobs, said Nagaraj N B, Vice President of the Integrated Steel Project in a company statement.

According to the Karnataka-based diversified group, it currently operates in the areas of renewable energy (wind and solar), shipping, pellets, gases and mining.

"We have received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for 3.5 MT capacity after an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study. The first phase of project is expected to start this year," he added.

The rest of the capacity will be added in phases over the next five years up to 2030, Nagaraj N B said.

By 2030, India aims to scale up its overall installed steel making capacity to 300 MT, he said, adding the country's current capacity stands at around 180 MT.

The group aims to contribute 10.5 MT to the country's 300 MT target, he added.

The proposed plant also includes provisions for 295 MW of captive power generation from waste gases and fuels, ensuring maximum resource utilisation and minimal waste.

In the statement, the group further said "certain sections of civil society had raised concerns regarding the project's ecological impact.

"Therefore, the company released the findings of the environmental impact assessment conducted for the project during the design stage, which indicates measures of sustainability, pollution and waste-management," it said.