Steel Secretary Shri P.R. Rastogi has said that the growth steel demand in the country will soon cross 10 percent as soon as the effects of global economic slow down are over. He said consumption grew by 8.9 percent in July and production grew by 5.9 percent. During April-July 2009, production grew by 3.8 percent while consumption grew by 5.8 percent. The steel Secretary was speaking at the third meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Steel.
Emphasizing the need for raw material security, Shri Rastogi said, Government has so far allocated 12 coking coal and 51 non-coking coal blocks, thereby ensuring 2700 million tonnes and 7000 million tonnes of non-coking coal for captive use by the steel industry. He said, only 4 coal blocks have been made functional and that it a matter of concern. He urged the industry to expedite the opening of coal reserves concurrent with commissioning of their steel production unit. He said, the union cabinet has recently approved the rehabilitation programme of Jharia coal fields, where nearly 12 billion tonnes of coking coal reserve is available. Shri Rastogi said, linkage for 3.75 MMSCMD gas has also been allocated in June this year to three producers – Essar Steel, Ispat Industries and Vikram Ispat.
The Steel Secretary urged steel producers to give their feedback on the draft National Mineral Policy circulated by the Ministry of Mines. He said the priority allocation of mines for the steel producers and value adders should remain an important criterion in the new Act.
Representatives of the Ministries of Mines, Shipping, Environment and Forests and Railways attended today’s meeting, besides a number of primary and secondary steel producers including Arcelor Mittal, Tata, SAIL, RINL, NMDC, Essar and Ispat Industries. During the discussion, the producers pointed out that delay in Environment and Forest clearance, allotment of iron ore mines and coal blocks, lack of infrastructure, insufficient railway rakes and law and order issues in the eastern region as the primary reasons for delay in the projects. The Steel Secretary assured them that the law and order issue will be taken up at the appropriate forum.
Emphasizing the need for raw material security, Shri Rastogi said, Government has so far allocated 12 coking coal and 51 non-coking coal blocks, thereby ensuring 2700 million tonnes and 7000 million tonnes of non-coking coal for captive use by the steel industry. He said, only 4 coal blocks have been made functional and that it a matter of concern. He urged the industry to expedite the opening of coal reserves concurrent with commissioning of their steel production unit. He said, the union cabinet has recently approved the rehabilitation programme of Jharia coal fields, where nearly 12 billion tonnes of coking coal reserve is available. Shri Rastogi said, linkage for 3.75 MMSCMD gas has also been allocated in June this year to three producers – Essar Steel, Ispat Industries and Vikram Ispat.
The Steel Secretary urged steel producers to give their feedback on the draft National Mineral Policy circulated by the Ministry of Mines. He said the priority allocation of mines for the steel producers and value adders should remain an important criterion in the new Act.
Representatives of the Ministries of Mines, Shipping, Environment and Forests and Railways attended today’s meeting, besides a number of primary and secondary steel producers including Arcelor Mittal, Tata, SAIL, RINL, NMDC, Essar and Ispat Industries. During the discussion, the producers pointed out that delay in Environment and Forest clearance, allotment of iron ore mines and coal blocks, lack of infrastructure, insufficient railway rakes and law and order issues in the eastern region as the primary reasons for delay in the projects. The Steel Secretary assured them that the law and order issue will be taken up at the appropriate forum.
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