RINL capacity to go up to 6.8 million tonnes by 2010

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that the expansion plan of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. (RINL), VSP, which is currently under implementation, will enhance the capacity of the plant from the present levels of operation of 3.6 million tonnes to 6.3 million tonnes of liquid steel by March 2010.

Minister of State for Steel Dr Akhilesh Das said in a written reply that the approved project cost is Rs 8692 crore. Concurrently, it is also envisaged to increase the liquid steel capacity additionally by 0.5 million tonnes from the existing production facilities by March, 2010 through introduction of various Addition, Modification and Replacement (AMR) and Non-AMR Schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore under Medium Term Plan.

Subsequent to implementation of both Phase-I expansion and Medium Term Plan Schemes, the capacity of the plant will be increased to 6.8 million tonnes of liquid steel per annum from the existing levels of operation of 3.6 million tonnes.

The iron ore requirement upto 6.3 million tonnes has almost entirely been tied up with M/s National Mineral Development Corporation.

RINL has also applied for mining lease for iron ore reserves in the States of Orissa, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. No iron ore reserve has so far been allocated to RINL, he added.

UNI