The Hindu Business Line : NMDC initiates steps for mineral processing unit

The corporation had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) in this regard at the Global Investors Meet (GIM) in Kochi in January this year.

The project, to be located in the Chavara-Neendakara coast of the Kollam district, is estimated to cost Rs 1,850 crore. Currently, NMDC is in talks with Lurgi of Germany for technology tie-up to implement the project. It has also contacted four firms to conduct a market survey, according to Mr Jiji Thomson, Managing Director, KSIDC.

He told Business Line that some of the other projects that were presented at GIM had also been making steady progress. For instance, Reliance group has evinced interest in the proposal for establishing a technology park in Kochi.

The land for the park will be provided by Cochin Shipyard which has already earmarked 5.85 acres at Panampillynagar for the purpose.

The total cost of the project is anticipated to be around Rs 65 crore. In regard to the proposed expansion of Kochi Refineries Ltd from 7.5 million tonnes per annum to 10.5 m.t., Mr Thomson said the project was taken up at the second meeting of the newly created investment promotion board of the State Government. The project parameters were being finalised and the requisite clearances sought from the authorities concerned, he said.

As for the proposal for the expansion of the Binani Zinc plant at Binanipuram in Kochi and the setting up of a captive power plant there, he said the issues relating to power and taxes were taken up with the departments concerned.

While the no-objection certificate for a 25-MW coal-based captive plant had been obtained, the Kerala State Electricity Board and State Electricity Regulatory Commission would consider the request for exemption from electricity duty.

Besides, the company's requests for limiting the central sales tax on zinc metal to one per cent and rationalisation of sales tax on fuel oils used for captive power generation is currently with the Secretary (Taxes). Mr Thomson said the sea sand mining project, proposed by Crown Maritime India Ltd, Mumbai, was awaiting permission from the Union Government for conducting reconnaissance survey.

He made it clear that the project would be taken up only after the environmental study. The project for manufacturing of sand from granite, being promoted by Poabs group, had received NoC from the State Pollution Control Board.

Similarly, the truck tyre project at Kalamassery, near Kochi, proposed by Zahi Rubbers, had been granted the initial set of clearances and civil construction was in progress, Mr Thomson said.

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