Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday said that Odisha has great potential to emerge as a global hub for steel, aluminium and other metal industries.
The state has registered significant growth in mining and mineral industries over the past two decades. Industry-friendly measures of the state have attracted huge investments, he said.
The Chief Minister along with Union Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the production work at Guali and Jilling-Langalota iron ore mines allotted to state PSU—Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) on virtual mode.
Patnaik said production at these two mines would help stabilise the iron ore market and meet the supply and demand of the industry. He further said that the state government has always taken early initiatives in mining sector.
To bring in transparency in transportation of minerals, i3MS has been launched and the auction process of many large mines has been successfully completed in the last few years, Naveen said.
Stating industry-friendly measures of the state have encouraged investment, the Chief Minister emphasised on the need for a coordinated effort by the state and Centre towards realising the huge potential of the state in the mining and metal industries.
The state government has been supporting the reforms in mining sector and it would benefit both the Centre and the state, he opined. Patnaik extended his gratitude to the Union minister for allocating the two new iron ore mines to the OMC.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Joshi said that Odisha is rich in mines and minerals. The economy of both the state and the country will grow if the work is done in coordination. “The coordination between state and Centre will lay foundation for beginning of a new era in economic growth of the country,” he said.
“These mines will help in stabilising the supplies for small industries and generating huge employment opportunities in the state. The two mines will generate approx. Rs 4000-5000 crore annual revenue for the state of Odisha.” said Joshi.
Joshi also requested the Chief Minister to bring more mines into auction and operationalisation of all non-working mines, to increase the production and revenue generation in the state.
Both the mines have production capacity of 12 million tonne per annum and they possess approximately 275 million tonne consolidated iron ore reserves. With the operation of these two mines, OMC’s annual production is expected to touch 20 billion tonne.
PNN
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