For 2nd time in 6 months, Mittal meets CM Naveen Patnaik to discuss steel project

BHUBANESWAR/KENDRAPADA: Steel magnate and executive chairman of the world’s largest steel producer, ArcelorMittal, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal met chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the latter’s residence here on Saturday.
It’s the second meeting of the ArcelorMittal boss with the chief minister in the past six months. Official sources in the chief minister’s office said the meeting lasted for an hour during which Mittal discussed the company’s proposed steel plant project at Kendrapada with the chief minister.
“Mittal thanked the chief minister for the cooperation extended by the state government and the Kendrapada district administration for the proposed steel complex. Naveen asked Mittal to expedite the company’s project in Odisha,” a senior government official said.
On March 4, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited (AMNS India), a joint venture (JV) of ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel of Japan, had signed an MoU with the state government to set up a 12MTPA integrated steel complex in Kendrapada district with an investment of Rs 50,000 crore. The MoU was signed in the presence of the chief minister and the chairman of the company.
The state government and AMNS India officials have begun the process of scouting for land for the mega steel mill project. The company has identified around 6,500 acres of land as initial area of interest for the steel complex at Mahakalapada area in Kendrapada district.