JSPL sees 'very good reason' to consider RINL, NMDC: MD Bimlendra Jha

State-owned companies marked out for divestment are attractive assets, he says in interview

The government has set the ball rolling for the strategic disinvestment of NMDC’s steel plant in Chhattisgarh’s Nagarnar. Separately, it is in pre-bid consultations with the industry for the proposed disinvestment of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), India’s first shore-based integrated steel plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Bimlendra Jha, managing director of Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL), told Ishita Ayan Dutt in an interview that RINL and NMDC are attractive assets with competitive advantage.

Here are edited excerpts from an interview.

What is the outlook for steel in the New Year?

We are more into long products but we