India’s central government has given environmental clearance for the proposed integrated steel plant in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, according to local media.
The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has given a green signal to the environmental impact assessment submitted by the state. The state government has conducted an Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) meeting in the villages before granting clearances.
The Andhra Pradesh government has proposed to set up high grade steel plant at Sunnapurallapalle and Peddananduluru villages in Kadapa district. The first phase of the plant will have a production capacity of 3mn mt, which will be double in the second phase. For the first phase, which will be operational in March 2024, the estimated project is around Rs100.8bn ($1.38bn) and another Rs60bn would be spent in the second phase.
Earlier, the state government had roped in Liberty Steel has a joint venture partner for the project. The plant will be built with emphasis on green steel technologies.
($1=Rs72.95)