NMDC Workers Hold Protest at Jantar Mantar against Nagarnar Sale
Strategic Research Institute
Published on :
18 Nov, 2021, 5:26 am
According to media reports, Indian iron ore giant NMDC’s workers staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the demerger of Nagarnar Steel Plant and government stake sale in the company. Nagarnar Steel Plant Workers' Union Presiden Mr Sant Ram Sethia said “We will be giving a representation to the Labour Minister regarding this.”
NMDC Sanyukt Khadaan Mazdoor Sangh, which represents workers at the NMDC operated mines, Secretary Mr Rajesh Sandhu said “Over 200 employees of the company have gathered in the national capital for the two-day protest. We are against the selling of the government's stake in the company. If this continues, one day the company will be privatised.”
NMDC, under the Ministry of Steel, is the country's largest iron ore mining company. It is also setting up a 3 million tonne per annum at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh over an area of 1,980 acres at a revised estimated cost of IR 23,140 crore. However, In August 2020, NMDC informed its board of directors giving inprinciple approval to the proposal to demerge its under-construction steel plant in Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh. Subsequently in October, the Union Cabinet also approved the demerger of the plant from NMDC, and its strategic disinvestment by selling the entire stake of the Centre to a strategic buyer. At present, the President of India holds around a 60% stake in the company.
NMDC setting up a 3 million tonne per annum capacity greenfield Integrated Steel Plant based on Hi-Smelt technology in Nagarnar, located 16 km from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh state. The plant site is around 16 km from Jagdalpur and 6 km from the Orissa–Chhattisgarh border. Ministry of steel has engaged MECON under a contract dated 23 February 2011 for Engineering, Design and Consultancy services for upcoming Steel Plant Nagarnar. As a part of the above, MECON is providing Procurement Services, Basic Engineering Services, Detailed Engineering Services, Designer’s Supervision Services, Inspection Services, Assistance in Commissioning Services and other General Services.
The entire plant is installed in 1,800 acres of land and has the following major facilities
Sinter Plant - 460 square meters
Coke Oven & By Product Complex - 7 meter tall Batteries x 2
Blast Furnace - 4,506 cubic meters
Pig Casting Machine - 1700 tonnes per day x 3
Steel Melting Shop - 175 tonne BOF Converters x 2
Ladle furnace - 175 tonnes x 2
RH-OB - 175 tonnes x 2
Thin Slab caster - 2 Strand Continous Caster
Hot Strip Mill
Down Coiler -2