Hindalco, Essar to invest Rs 7,700 cr

Bhopal, Mar 22: Hindalco and Essar would invest Rs 7,700 crore on the Mahan Coal Block, five coal-based power units of total 750 MW capacity and a 3.25 lakh-tonne annual output aluminium smelter plant in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district.

A MoU would be signed with the government on April 5. Hindalco MD D Bhattacharya met Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the assembly premises yesterday. Industry Minister Babulal Gaur was also present, an official release said.

''The Centre granted permission for mining of Mahan Block two days back. Preliminary work on the units will begin immediately after signing of the MoU,'' said Mr Bhattacharya.

The smelter plant would be established near Bargawan about 70 km from Sidhi, the release added.

UNI