Bhubaneswar, Feb. 22: Union steel secretary G. Mohan Kumar today assured the steel producers of the state that their problems would be addressed by the Centre.

Kumar, who reviewed progress of 15 steel projects here, said Odisha has been emerging as a happening state in the steel sector during the past five years. “Odisha, being one of the largest producers of iron ore, can contribute substantially towards achievement of national target in steel production,” he said, adding that the target had been pegged at 3,000 million tonnes.

At today’s meeting, the progress of major central public sector undertakings such as the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) was reviewed. Issues related to mining, forest clearances, renewal of mining leases, expansion of the SAIL units, long-term raw material linkages, e-auction of iron ore, environmental and other statutory clearances were discussed and necessary decisions were taken for quick resolution of the problems.

Similarly, concerns of private steel-producing units, including Posco India, Tata Steel, Bhusan Steels, Jindal Steel and Power, Essar Steel Holding Limited, Monnet Ispat Energy, Visa Steel and Jindal Stainless, were also discussed and decisions were taken to move things forward.

SAIL chairman C.S. Verma said the state government had promptly acted on various issues and provided necessary support for expansion of SAIL units in Odisha. The Posco representative said that because of the government’s active support there had been substantial progress in spade work in the past few months.

During the review, the steel companies wanted uninterrupted supply of raw materials to their units. Even representatives of Bhusan Steel demanded permanent allocation of iron ore. An official of the state-run Odisha Mining Corporation said they were making regular allotment of iron ore to the company. But, the allotments were not being lifted regularly.

Chief secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra advised the corporation and other allottees to utilise all the allotted mines for ensuring long-term raw material linkages to the steel-producing units. He also asked to study the best practices adopted in other states for maximising the mineral royalty earning from iron ore.

The public sector National Mineral Development Corporation offered to undertake iron ore exploration in unexplored areas to identify new sources. The proposal was accepted in principle at the meeting.