September 08, 2008

Essar Steel to build a new jetty at Hazira

BS reported that in order to match its expansion plans, Essar Steel has sought necessary clearances on an urgent basis to build a new jetty as its captive port facility is unable to handle heavy engineering equipment needed for the on going expansion project at the steel plant and has sought urgent permission from the Gujarat Maritime Board for the purpose.

The report cited a government official as saying that “Essar Steel has communicated to us that they need to construct the roll on roll off jetty very soon so that they can handle very heavy machinery required for the expansion project.”

Meanwhile, Gujarat Maritime Board had last year given the necessary clearances to Essar Steel to expand its jetty at Hazira in south Gujarat by an additional 150 metre, where it is planning to invest INR 450 crore for the expansion. SEZ Hazira Limited, a group subsidiary, had committed investments to the tune of INR 12,750 crore to develop a steel plant, Hazira plate mill and a deep water port and allied facilities at Surat.

Essar Steel currently operates a gas based hot briquetted iron plant with a production capacity of 4.6 million tonnes per annum, which will be doubling to over 8 million tonnes per annum. The plant is supported by a captive power plant of 32 MW.