10 years on, Kalinganagar complex becomes Tata Steel's growth spine

A project forged through resistance and reinvention now readies for its next leap - towards 16 mtpa capacity

Tata Steel’s Kalinganagar complex marked its tenth year of operations on Tuesday, having drawn close to ~50,000 crore in investment — the largest organic capacity expansion in the company’s history. This is set to grow as the steelmaker eyes a future capacity of 16 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

 

The company said Tata Steel Kalinganagar (TSK) holds a unique place in its history.

 

For many years, Odisha’s rich mineral resources primarily served as raw material for its Jamshedpur plant — the steelmaker’s century-old base. TSK changed that equation by bringing large-scale steel production directly to the state. From an initial 3 mtpa commissioned in 2015, TSK expanded to 8 mtpa with the commissioning of India’s largest blast furnace in September 2024.

 

Commenting on a decade of TSK, T V Narendran, managing director and chief executive officer, Tata Steel, said, “For all of us at Tata Steel, Kalinganagar holds a very special place in our hearts. It represents a new era — one where we combined a century of experience with a vision for the future, creating a living blueprint for Indian manufacturing.”

 

He added, “Kalinganagar tested our resilience, teamwork, and faith, and each time, our people rose to the occasion. Over the past decade, Kalinganagar has shown how growth, technology, and sustainability can work in harmony to build lasting value.”

 

TSK also plays a key role in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push by producing more than 100 grades of high-quality steel, reducing the country’s import dependence.

 

The site is now set for its next leap — towards becoming a 16 mtpa complex — as it continues to innovate, grow, and support livelihoods, the company said.

 

Getting here wasn’t easy.

 

Tata Steel signed a memorandum of understanding with the Odisha government for an integrated steel plant in 2004, but the project was delayed for nearly a decade after a 2006 police firing over land acquisition led to fatalities and stalled progress.

 

Tata Steel’s investment footprint in Odisha now extends well beyond Kalinganagar. Over the past decade, the state has become the company’s biggest investment destination in India, drawing more than ~1 trillion in cumulative spending, including acquisitions.

 

In 2018, the company acquired Bhushan Steel under India’s insolvency law, adding a 5.6 mtpa plant at Meramandali on a 2,000-acre site. In 2022, it was declared the winning bidder for Neelachal Ispat Nigam, owned by central and state public sector undertakings.

 

Neelachal, Kalinganagar, and Meramandali now form the three pillars of Tata Steel’s plan to reach 40 mtpa capacity over the next five to seven years.