JSW Steel, India’s No.3 steelmaker received a respite after the Supreme Court partially lifted an iron ore mining ban imposed in a key region of the state. There are plans to raise its production at its south Karnataka plant.
It’s now focusing to operate its plants in south India at about 80 per cent capacity. It had cut production at its Karnataka plant by 30 to 35 per cent last week after the court had imposed an interim ban on mining in Bellary, from where it sources most of its ore requirement for the 10 million tonne plant. The Mumbai-based steelmaker has a capacity of 11 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), with plants in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu state, and requires 18 MTPA of iron ore to operate them at full capacity, it said.
“JSW Steel plans to operate its plants at present at around 80 per cent capacity; with an expectation of further relief in the availability of ore from the Honorable Supreme Court of India to enhance the capacity utilization beyond 80 per cent,” it said in a statement.
