Environment Ministry clears Jindal’s Steel Plant in Orissa

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) given a go-ahead to Jindal Steel and Power Limited’s (JSPL) 6 MTPA integrated steel plant and 1,000 MW Captive Power plant at Kerjang, Angul in Orissa. Earlier, in November last year, the Ministry had issued a show cause notice to JSPL under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 subsequent to a complaint made by some NGO to the MoEF.
 
However, JSPL has been asked to earmark 2% of the net profit as the CSR budget and to adopt dry quenching in coke oven plant to conserve water, use 100% fly ash generated for cement and brick manufacturing and back filling in the captive coal mine and abandoned coal mines. Further 33% of the area is to be developed as a green belt, coal gasification technology is to be used for manufacture of DRI, to achieve particulate emissions below 50 mg/m³ and adopt rainwater harvesting measures. According to a release, JSPL has agreed compliance with all directions given in the MoEF communication.
 
JSPL plans to invest Rs. 50,000 Crore to set up a 12.5 million tonne integrated steel plant and 2,600 MW captive power plant in phases. The company is also investing close to Rs. 45,000 Crore on the coal to liquid project in the state to produce an estimated 80,000 barrels per day (4.0 MMTPA) crude oil using environment-friendly indirect coal liquefaction technology from M/s. Lurgi of Germany.

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