Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 4: Managing director of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL), M V Subba Rao, said that the company has planned to start iron ore pellization plans at three places in the country with a capacity to produce six million tonnes of pellets. He said that with this initiative,his company wants to considerably enhance its presence in pelletization activity in a significant manner.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday December 3, Rao said that a new model pelletization plant will come at Visakhapatnam while two more units will come up at Bhoruka in Odisha and Bhilai. "At present, iron ore is brought here from Odisha, and sent to Visakhapatnam afer pelletization. Once the plant comes up at Visakhapatnam, we will save transportation cost. Detailed project report about this project has been prepared and will be implemented soon," he said.

Rao said that although it is possible to supply water from Lakya dam of KIOCL to the city, because of legal hurdles, this is not being done. He said that further decisions will have to be taken on the basis of Supreme Court verdict, adding that the hundred-acre land in Kudremukh where mining had been undertaken by his company in the past is sans any activities. "There are staff to maintain the area, and all machinery has been sold. There is possibility of developing it into a tourist spot. Everything depends on court verdict," he explained.

He said that the company's facility in the city has the capacity to undertake pelletization of 3.5 million tonnes of iron ore and that currently only 2.5 million tonnes are being handled here. He said that the capacity here is proposed to be increased to five million tonnes shortly. "We will be producing 1.3 mw solar power in five acre land. In future we want to produce 5 mw solar power with an investment of Rs 30 crore. Currently, we have solar rooftops producing 0.35 mw power," he explained.