SAIL production to be doubled by 2012

Burnpur, W Bengal, Dec 24 (UNI) Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) had targeted to double its production to 80 million tonnes through continuous upgradation and modernisation.

Addressing the foundation laying ceremony for IISCO's Rs 9,592 crore expansion programme here, Mr Paswan said the targeted production by 2020 had been fixed at 110 million tonnes and it would generate employment for ten million people.

To expand the capacity of different steel plants under SAIL, the Government had earmarked a total of Rs 37,000 crore, he said.

Referring to IISCO's merger with SAIL, the Minister said this would spell a good future for the company and a target had been set to augment the production to 22 million tonnes from the present 13 million tonnes.

Mr Paswan announced that the Union Cabinet had okayed the revival package for the ailing Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Mr Paswan also expressed his desire to reopen the Kulti Foundry Works, a unit of IISCO Steel Plant, which had been declared closed earlier.

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