Bhubaneswar: Hindalco Industries today entered into an agreement with State’s mining giant Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to get long term raw material linkage for its project at Kansariguda in Rayagada district.
OMC MD Balwant Singh and Hindalco MD Satish Pai signed the agreement for their respective organisations in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The agreement will facilitate and speed up the work for a two-million tonne alumina refinery in Rayagada.
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 the government’s 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.”
The Chief Minister appealed to 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, he said, the Government of Odisha came up with a new Long-Term Linkage Policy of Minerals for Industries, facilitated through the 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.
Patnaik 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 1,000 direct jobs, and 4,000 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.
Industries & MSME Minister Pratap Deb said that the partnership of the people is essential for industries. Under the vision of the CM, Odisha is committed to the development of tribal people in the mineral rich area. Inclusivity is a must in industrialization, he emphasized.
Joining the MoU signing ceremony on a virtual platform, the Chairman of Aditya Birla Group Kumar Mangalam Birla said that Odisha is witnessing rapid industrialization under the visionary leadership of the Chief Minister.
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, he said.
The Utkal Alumina plant generated thousands of new jobs, and impacted lakhs of people in hundreds of villages through community development initiatives, Birla said.
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.
Principal Secretary Industries Hemant Sharma delivered the welcome address while MD IDCO Bhupendra Singh Poonia proposed the vote of thanks.
Among others, Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Secretary to CM V K Pandian and senior officers of the State Government and Hindalco were present. The people of Kansariguda also joined the program through virtual mode.