BL reported that Midhani has firmed up plans to invest a further INR 100 crore to expand its facilities and to meet growing supply orders. With an order book of over INR 750 crore, Midhani is upbeat about the opportunities from the strategic sectors like space, defense and nuclear.

Mr M Narayana Rao CMD of Midhani said that it has decided to establish a new electro slag refining facility and a forge press with a combined investment of nearly INR 100 crore. This would be in addition to the INR 160 crore expansion plan, which is under way to augment the company’s existing facilities. He added that it also wants to set up a new rolling mill, which costs about INR 60 crore, to boost its infrastructure and execute orders faster.

Mr Rao said that "We are also inclined to seek support from the ministry as well as financial institutes, if necessary." He added that the department of space, atomic energy and other customers have also supported in funding. Midhani’s orders comprise of defense supplies with 48%, space with 29%, power with 10%, commercial with 7% and nuclear with 6%.

He further added that the large projects taken up by the defense ministry, launch and development initiatives and the nuclear power expansion program of the department of atomic energy, have fuelled big orders up to 2012 already.