Bhubaneswar, Oct. 31: South Korean steel major Posco today made it clear that the company would carry out with its eight-million tonne steel project, in which it is committed to invest Rs 52,000 crore, in Paradip.

After meeting chief secretary G.C. Pati, new chairman-cum-managing director of Posco India Gee Woong Sung told reporters: “We have been waiting for 10 years. We will not quit — no, never!”

Posco and the state government officials termed the meeting that had continued for one hour as successful. The state government is working on a plan to send its response to additional clarifications sought by the central government’s cabinet committee on investments and the project monitoring group with regard to the iron prospecting lease recommendation for Posco in the Khandadhar mines in Sundergarh district.

Mines director Deepak Mohanty said: “The issue is related to the Khandadhar mines. We will send our response shortly.”

Early this month, the Centre had sought information from the state government on how much of the mining land sought by Posco was notified as iron ore-bearing areas, where commercial mining was allowed. Mining in the non-notified areas needs more approvals than that in the notified areas.

Posco had asked the ministry of mines to explore iron ore over 682.54 hectares. However, the Centre wanted the state government to submit separate proposals for the notified and non-notified areas before taking a call on the issue.

While the state government and the Centre have expressed their keenness for the project, Union tribal welfare minister Jual Oram is opposing it. The Posco chief also held meetings with Idco chairman-cum-managing director Vishal Dev regarding land acquisitions and other facilities to be provided to the proposed plant.

Sources said Dev had asked the Posco officials to submit the Rs 52 crore as premium towards land acquisition. Of the 2,700 acres, required for the Posco project, Idco has handed over 1,700 acres to it, which is, however, yet to take physical possession of the land.

Sources said a detailed discussion was held on terms and conditions that should be included in the fresh MoU that has lapsed since June 2011.

The state government also told the officials that it had also made arrangements to provide water to its project from the Mahanadi river system. Posco wants to draw water from the Mahanadi and the Hansua, a tributary of the Mahanadi river system.

While water supply from the Mahanadi will help run its proposed blast furnace and captive power plant round the year, the Hansua water will be primarily used for the construction.