Bhubaneswar: Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) Naveen Jindal on Friday said his plants in Odisha were facing iron ore and coal shortage. Meeting state chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, Jindal said: "Price of iron ore is lowering at the international market. But its price is increasing in Odisha. Keonjhar district transporters are also enhancing their cost time to time. All these factors are putting the steel industry in great trouble."

Demanding the availability of iron ore at competitive price, Jindal said: "Finding coal is another problem. There is an acute scarcity of coal here in Odisha. We're purchasing costliest coal here in Odisha through e-auction."

In another development, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (Apsez) on Friday said it had signed an agreement with GAIL to provide liquefied natural gas regasification services on a pay-and-use basis at its upcoming LNG import terminal at Dhamra.

"This project will play a pioneering role in powering east India towards a prosperous and gas-based future," said chief executive officer of Apsez Karan Adani.