Jindal seeks Odisha govt intervention to resolve crisis

Leading steel maker Jindal Steel & Power Limited (JSPL) today sought Odisha government's intervention into the 'abnormal' high price of raw materials such as iron ore and coal in the state.

JSPL chairman Naveen Jindal highlighted problems faced by steel industries in the state when he met Chief Secretary A P Padhi and other senior government officials here.

"While Iron Ore price in international market is decreasing, the same in Odisha is increasing. Also the transporters are increasing the freight rate from time to time. This adds to the challenges faced by the steel industries in the state," Jindal told reporters here.

 

He requested the state government to intervene in the issue of increasing iron ore price and freight rate in Odisha.

Stating that there is scarcity of coal for steel industries in the state, Jindal said the premium for coal in e-auction by Mandi Coalfields Limited (MCL) goes up to 100 per cent. "In Odisha, we are buying the World's costliest coal through e-auction," he added.

Jindal also urged the MCL and the Coal India to increase production in order to facilitate smooth running of steel industries in the state.

The consistent increase of input price for the steel industry is resulting in hiked cost of production, Jindal said adding that the steel industries are facing difficulties as the raw material prices are increasing, whereas the price of finished steel products is going down.

During April to July, Jindal said, "Steel prices has been reduced from Rs 41,000 per ton to Rs 39,000 per ton, whereas prices of iron ore lumps has surged by 10.58 per cent from Rs 4,725 per ton to Rs 5,225 per tonne and fines by 17 per cent from Rs 2,050 to Rs 2,400 per tonne."

Jindal requested the state government to take immediate steps to increase iron ore availability for the industries in competitive price and implement the notification regarding freight rate for mineral transport in the state.

JSPL has invested Rs 35,000 crore in steel sector in the state, which includes India's largest pelletisation complex of 9 MTPA capacity at Barbil in Keonjhar district and Odishas largest steel plant of 6 MTPA capacity.