Downstream Industries Can Help Odisha Meet Mineral Value Addition Target

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is targeting to increase value addition of minerals extracted in the state from the current 23% to 50% by 2030 and could be possible by augmenting metal-making capacity in steel, stainless steel and alumina facilities, said former director (technical) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) Sashi Shekhar Mohanty.

He was speaking at a webinar on ‘Prospects for steel-based downstream industries in Odisha’, organised by Odisha Corporate Foundation (OCF), a not-for-profit organisation, on Sunday.

Despite being the leading mineral producing state in the country, Odisha is placed 29th in mineral utilisation, said former managing director of Bhilai Steel Plant AK Rath. He said though Odisha produces 20% of the country’s ore, only 2% is utilised in the state. If the state government takes measures for value addition of its resources, it will give a boost to downstream and ancillary industries, he added.

This is the right time to develop downstream industries, noted the speakers.

Among others, former executive director (marketing) of SAIL TK Sahu attended the webinar, which was moderated by former central statutory auditor of SAIL BN Mishra.

OCF has been undertaking activities to promote social, economic and educational development of the state. It has been encouraging and promoting NROs in the country and abroad in various sectors.