Bhubaneswar:Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Thursday signed an MoU with Hindalco Industries for providing long term raw material linkage for the Alumina Refinery project at Kansariguda in Rayagada district in presence of chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The MoU was signed by OMC MD Balwant Singh and Hindalco MD Satish Pai. The agreement will facilitate and speed up the work for a 2 mtpa alumina refinery in Rayagada at a capital cost of Rs 8000 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, ” Today marks a significant milestone in the journey of Odisha’s industrial growth and development.”
He further said that Odisha is poised to become an Industrial Hub of the East, and this is not just our ambition but our mission. He invited everyone to be a part of this exciting journey. Then he called upon all, “Let’s co-create a future where business and socio-economic growth go hand in hand, making Odisha a shining example for the world.”
He appealed the people of Rayagada to provide all support to the refinery project, so that work can start soon and make visible changes in the life of local people.
In June 2023, the CM continued, the government of Odisha came up with a new Long-Term Linkage Policy of Minerals for Industries, facilitated through the State government owned OMC. This policy was a commitment to foster an environment where industries can thrive, innovate, and contribute to the state’s socio-economic fabric. This MoU exemplifies our unwavering dedication to making Odisha a magnet for industrial investments, he added. He outlined that the Alumina Refinery of Aditya Aluminum Limited at Kanshariguda is a green field project coming up with an investment of Rs 8,000 crore. The project will create one thousand direct jobs, and four thousand indirect employment opportunities. This is the transformative power of industry. He thanked the Aditya Birla Group for believing in the potential of Odisha and partnering with us in this journey.
Joining the MoU signing ceremony on virtual platform, the Chairman of Aditya Birla Group Kumar Mangalam Birla said that Odisha is witnessing rapid industrialization under the visionary leadership of chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Through several decades of development, Odisha has made remarkable progress in several fields. The Odisha-Hindalco partnership is a symbiotic success story that is an exemplar for holistic development. The Utkal Alumina plant generated thousands of new jobs, and impacted lakhs of people in hundreds of villages through community development initiatives.
He further said that the second refinery will follow the same development model, seeding more opportunities in livelihoods and cascading more socio-economic development. He thanked the people and government of Odisha.
Industries & MSME minister Pratap Deb, chief secretary PK Jena, development commissioner Anu Garg, principal secretary industries Hemant Sharma and secretary to CM (5-T) V.K. Pandian were present on the occasion.
