RINL to enhance capacity to 6.3 MT by 2010

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The expansion plan of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), currently under implementation, will enhance its capacity from the existing 3.6 million tonnes (MT) to 6.3 MT of liquid steel by March 2010 with an approved project cost of Rs 8,692 crore.

Concurrently, it is also envisaged to increase the liquid steel capacity additionally by 0.5 MT 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 MT of liquid steel per annum from the existing levels of operation of 3.6 MT, Minister of State for Steel Akhilesh Das said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The iron ore requirement upto 6.3 MT has almost entirely been tied up with National Mineral Development Corporation.

RINL has also applied for mining lease for iron ore reserves in Orissa, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, but no iron ore reserve has so far been allocated to it.

UNI