The new units in the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (Visakhapatnam steel plant) are functioning well and their production is being stabilised, according to Chairman and Managing Director P Madhusudan.

In an interview on Thursday, the CMD said the plant’s capacity has risen to 6.3 million tonnes and capital repairs as well as modernisation of the units was underway. After the completion of the process, 1 million tonnes more would be added, and by 2017-18, the capacity will rise to 7.3 million tonnes.

He said that “ultimately the objective is to take the capacity to 20 million tonnes by 2032 and it will be done in three phases or so”. He added that the capital repairs in blast furnace one (Godavari) had been completed and the repairs in the second blast furnace (Krishna) would be taken up later this year. He also said repairs to two sinter machines of 3 million tonnes will be undertaken as part of the modernisation process, at a cost of ₹5,000 crores.

Diversification He informed that RINL was diversifying its product profile and would produce flat products in future, though its strength is in long ones.

“Though the market is sluggish at present, we are hopeful it will improve soon. The new capital of Andhra Pradesh is being built and it augurs well for us. Ours is the nearest plant and we will provide products at competitive rates,” he said.

He said the Centre would take a decision on disinvestment after taking market conditions and other factors into consideration.

He said the revised dates for the Prime Minister’s visit to inaugurate expansion units had not been finalised.

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