South Korean steel manufacturer Posco and
Australian mining major, BHP Biliton, have jointly approached the Orissa
government to consider setting up a greenfield 10 million tpa steel plant in the
state.
Although project details are not yet available,
the massive Rs.39,000 crore proposal involving the setting up a iron ore mining
facility, a coke unit apart from a 10 million tpa steel plant.
The MoU to this effect is likely to be signed by
the end of 2004. Possible locations for the plant are Duburi in Jajpur district
and Dhamra in Bhadrak district of Orissa.
In an independent proposal, BHP Biliton is
planning to set up a greenfield alumina venture at Kalrapat in Kalahandi
district of Orissa. State-based Sulakshana Mines & Minerals will be the
local partner to the project.