Tata Steel has announced that it would enhance its overall steel capacity to 15 million tpa by 2010, from the present level of around 4 million tpa.

The Jamshedpur works is expected to have a capacity to 7 million tpa by 2010. The balance would be distributed at coastal locations in India and at least one overseas location. The company is studying the feasibility of setting up overseas units in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Ukraine.

Within India, Tata Steel is examining the viability of a steel unit at Dhamra, where it plans to set up a minor port in partnership with Larsen & Toubro. Indicating that Orissa was a good location as any for a new steel plant, Muthuraman said the port at Dhamra would handle existing Tata Steel cargo as well as steel export shipments.

Tata Steel and L&T will invest Rs 1,400 crore in the first phase of the port project to build a facility in three years to handle around 13 million tonnes of cargo.

To enhance its fuel and coke supply, Tata Steel will invest Rs 350 crore in the first phase to set up a 600,000 tonnes per annum coke over battery at Haldia in West Bengal.