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Centre keen to restrict export of iron ore

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Shiv Sahay Singh

Posted: Jun 01, 2008 at 0204 hrs IST

Jamshedpur, May 31 The central government is mulling to impose some sort of a control on the export of iron ore, which is taking a toll on the steel production in the country. “The major steel makers have made such a demand and the matter is under active consideration of the government,” said R S Pandey, Secretary Steel, Government of India. He, however, clarified that the final decision on the issue is still awaited.

Speaking at a programme at Tata Steel on Saturday, Pandey noted that the prices of iron-ore have increased by over 60 per cent. He also expressed his concern over the imbalance between the demand and supply of steel and said that the top priority is to increase the production in the country.

To accelerate the production, the company has set up the ‘H’ blast furnace with an inner diameter of 3,814 cubic metres and a production capacity of 7,150 tonnes per day. The steel secretary inaugrated the furnance, which is said to produce three per cent of the crude capacity of the country, on Saturday.  

A consortium of Tata Steel, Larsen & Toubro and Paul Wurth has erected the ‘H’ Blast furnace, the latter being the technology provider.

“For the first time in 2007-08, we have become net importers of steel,” said Pandey. The consumption of steel is growing by 12-13 percent and the production is increasing by 6 percent, he added.

He, however, put forth that the production of steel in the country by 2011-12 will be 124 million tonnes and by 2015-16, the country will be the second largest producer of steel.

B Muthuraram, managing director of Tata Steel also voiced concerns on the issue and said if things continue at the same pace, India will have to import 25 million tonnes of steel by the next five years.

“We need to have faster land acquisition process, re-habilitation, processing of application for minerals and should check undue export of iron-ore,” said Muthuraman. Tata Steel is capable enough to achieve the production target of 10 million tonnes by mid 2010, he added.

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