Orissa to renew MoU with Posco shortly, Okays go ahead to Korean Co for Paradip plant

30 Oct, 2011 |ET Bureau

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa government will soon renew the MoU with South Korean steel major, Posco for a 12-mtpa steel mill near Paradeep in Jagatsinghpur district.

The draft MoU is presently being fine-tuned, chief secretary Bijoy Patnaik said here adding that the 2,000 acres of land cleared by the state government for the mega-project near Paradip would be handed over to the Korean company at the time of renewal of the MOU.

The Law Department is studying certain controversial clauses in the expired MoU like ore swapping and the MMDR Act. Posco-India had already submitted its views on the controversial export clause in the previous MoU.

"Posco-India's views on the export clause are being examined by the law, steel and mines departments. The provisions of the MMDR need to be in accordance with the content of the revised MoU," he said.

Posco, in its previous MoU signed in 2005, had wanted about 4,000 acre to set up the plant at an investment of Rs 52,000 crore.

Incidentally, the state government had earlier made it clear that the Posco, can start work at the proposed plant site near Paradip before signing fresh MoU with the state, "Work for the steel project and processing of the MoU can go simultaneously," said Mr Patnaik, remarked "We will talk to Posco-India over the matter relating to beginning of the work at the proposed plant site areas under Ersama block in Jagatsinghpur district," he said.

However, the company has to agree to begin the work on the 12 mtpa mega steel plant before entering into any formal MoU, an official at the steel and mines department said.

Meanwhile, the state has overshot its mining revenue collection target in the April to September period of 2011-12. As against the targeted Rs 1,750 crore, the actual collection was Rs 2,241.29 crore. This is 51.8% higher than Rs 1,476.42 crore recorded in the corresponding period of 2010-11.

Mining revenue collection has been buoyed by higher sales realization. Under reporting of ore prices, especially iron ore has been curbed to a large extent and now our prices compare favorably with pan India average, according to the mining department officials.

(sourced Economics Times)

PPT iron ore terminal project awaits forest clearance

Wednesday, 12 Oct 2011

Telegraph reported that an INR 506 crore iron ore terminal project, an ambitious expansion project of Paradip Port Trust, remains stalled because of absence of clearance from the ministry of forest and environment.

The project could lead to a major increase of the cargo handling capacity of the port. Port authorities had felt the need for a deep draught iron ore berth to meet expeditious handling of ores because of the recent iron ore export boom.

Thereafter, an accord was signed between the PPT and a private bidder on July 1st 2009. However, the project has failed to move forward as the MoEF clearance has not yet been accorded.

Forest officials said that PPT officials had invited tender for the project in a hurry without being armed with the MoEF clearance. The clearance is mandatory for the project to take off.

Mr Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division said that "First, PPT authorities should have sought the MoEF go ahead before inviting global tenders. But they did not do so. Hence, the port trust will have to wait for the clearance."

Mr S Ananta Chandra Bose deputy chairman at PPT said that "The matter has been taken up with appropriate authorities. This project is of immense importance for the growth of the port. We are hopeful that MoEF will accord the seal of approval for the project without further delay."

Mr Mohapatra said that "Since this is an important port project, we are treating the case expeditiously. The PPT has already given us an undertaking that compensatory forestation will be carried out. The clearance proposal has been sent to the Union ministry. We expect a positive reply from MoEF very shortly."

The site for the terminal project is under the PPT's jurisdiction. However, the construction site falls under the coastal regulation zone territory and the MoEF clearance is a must for such projects.

(sourced from Telegraphindia)

Coking coal imports decline strongly at Indian port of Paradip in June

Friday,08 July 2011

With high prices leading to low demand, coking coal imports via the port of Paradip in the eastern Indian state of Orissa declined in June this year to 482,593 mt, as reported by leading Indian business newspaper Business Standard. This volume was down significantly from 632,795 mt in May, indicating a decrease of 24 percent. The coking coal import volume via Paradip in April had totaled 656,295 mt. (By steelorbis)

POSCO war Zone - Government officials visit proposed port site

Monday, 14 Feb 2011

Orissa Diary reported that top state government officials paid spot visit visited proposed POSCO captive port site nearer to Paradeep and held a high level meeting with district officials at Paradeep circuit house.

The visiting state higher ups included IDCO managing director cum nodal officer for POSCO project Mr Priyabrata Pattnaik, state director general police Mr MM Praharaj, Jagatsinghpur district collector Mr NC Jena and Superintendent of Police Mr S Devadatta Singh, Rehabilitation officer Mr Surajit Das Paradeep, Additional district magistrate Saroj Kanta Chouhurry land acquisition officer Mr Nrusingha Swain and other district level officers from revenue department.

According to official sources added that for collecting ground level information’s about the project state senior officials had come to Paradeep on Saturday and held discussion with district officials.

Sources said after union ministry of Environment and Forests department cleared much hyped POSCO project imposing elevated conditions on 31 January the visit of state government officials to proposed project site marks significant as state government yet to be complied with MoEF and seeking for final clearance.

(sourced:orissadiary.com)