VSP striving to get captive iron ore mines

Visakhapatnam: The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is striving to get captive iron ore mines as the plant is in the expansion mode, and has approached Orissa, Chhattisgarh and others, but the States are insisting on value-addition at the pithead, according to Mr P.K. Bishnoi, Chairman and Managing Director.

He was delivering a lecture on the iron and steel industry in India, organised by the Centre for Policy Studies as part of its series – India at 60.

Prof A. Prasanna Kumar presided over the meeting.

Mr Bishnoi said that the iron ore in Andhra Pradesh was of inferior grade; therefore, it would have to pelletised before being used in steel manufacture.

“However, if the State Government grants us mines, we are willing to set up the pelletisation plant, even if it means extra cost.”