The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, OCT 5, 2023
In a significant move to bolster Odisha’s commitment to deliver long term raw material security for sustainable business, the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and Aditya Birla Group company Hindalco Industries Limited on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Long-Term Linkage of Raw Material for HINDALCO Alumina Refinery at Kanshariguda in Rayagada district.
The event was graced by the presence of key dignitaries, including Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Industries Minister Pratap Keshari Deb, Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumaramangalam Birla, and Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Patnaik said, “With the implementation of the Long-term Linkage Policy for Minerals – 2023, Odisha has positioned itself as the investors’ preferred destination for sustainable industrial growth. This MoU is a testament to our commitment to delivering the best industrial ecosystem for growth of business. Collaborations like these are crucial for the state’s progress and for providing employment opportunities to our people.”
He thanked the people of Kansariguda in Rayagada for their wholehearted support for setting up of this refinery in their area and welcomed their participation in the industrial development of Odisha.
The 2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity Aditya Alumina Refinery Project with a cogeneration thermal power plant of 150 MW to be set up at an investment of Rs 8000 crore, will have the potential to generate 1000 direct and 4,000 indirect jobs during its operational phase. The ores would be transported through a fully covered closed conveyor system.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Pratap Keshari Deb said, “Odisha’s industrial landscape is evolving rapidly. This collaboration with Hindalco Industries Limited is a significant step forward, and we are optimistic about the mutual growth opportunities it presents.”
Commenting on the partnership, Kumaramangalam Birla said, “The Odisha-Hindalco partnership is going from strength to strength. It is a symbiotic success story that is an exemplar for holistic development. The Utkal Alumina plant brought in state-of-the-art technology, fostered new industrial growth, generated thousands of new jobs, and impacted lakhs of people in hundreds of villages through community development initiatives. The metal born in Odisha has been used in critical applications such as defence, aerospace and pharma, in India as well as overseas. The second refinery will follow the same development model, seeding more opportunities in livelihoods and cascading more socio-economic development. We are thankful to the people and government of Odisha and confident that the new project will be another shining beacon of collective and inclusive growth.”
Along with the refinery, the Aditya Birla Group has also announced to set up a large-scale garment manufacturing plant at Rayagada which will generate employment for 1500 local youth.
The MoU is an outcome of the recently launched Long Term Linkage Policy of Government of Odisha which provides for assured availability of iron Ore, bauxite, Chromite Ore & limestone through OMC to mineral based value addition industries in Odisha.
Odisha, with its strategic location on the eastern seaboard of the Indian peninsula, offers a unique advantage to industries. This MoU is a significant step towards leveraging this geographical and natural resource advantage, making Odisha the Industrial Hub of the East.
The Odisha Government remains committed to fostering an environment where industries can thrive, innovate, and contribute to the state’s socio-economic fabric. This collaboration with Hindalco Industries Limited is a shining example of the state’s proactive approach to industrial development.
