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In the first half of 2013-14, SAIL did better than in the same period last year. In a telephonic interview, SAIL Chairman C.S. Verma told Business Line that the second-half could be even better. Excerpts from the interview:
What is the sales outlook for H2?
The second half is generally better than the first for domestic demand growth. There are distinct signs of local and global demand improving for steel items.
The price realisation also has improved.
It should also better in the second half. Overall, both sales volumes and value will be better in the next part of this fiscal.
Will commissioning of the blast furnace (mother unit) at Burnpur plant in December add to SAIL’s output this fiscal?
It will take about three months to stabilise.
Therefore, Burnpur’s commissioning in December may not improve output significantly this fiscal, but Rourkela’s blast furnace, which is now undergoing stabilisation process, may add to the tonnage in H2 (capacity without Rourkela is 14.5 million tonnes).
How is the Rowghat iron ore project progressing?
Work for laying of railway tracks and deployment of security forces along the logistics route linking the Rowghat area (in Chhattisgarh) is on.
We will invite expression of interest for the mine developer and operator this month.
You have signed an MoU with Chhattisgarh for captive iron ore mining at Eklama. What is the status of the project?
After the MoU for the Eklama deposit, the proposed joint venture agreement with the Chhattisgarh Government has been prepared. It would be signed within a month.
When will you complete the capacity expansion (blast furnace) at Bhilai?
It is not happening this fiscal. We have to have graded focus and priorities on the projects at hand. Projects, which are nearing completion, are getting a little more attention.
The negotiations for the SAIL-led Hajigak iron ore mining project in Afghanistan seems never ending. What is the future of the project?
Several rounds of negotiations have taken place. The Afghan negotiators have gone back to their authorities for certain approvals.
There are a few residual issues too. These are likely to be sorted out in the last round of negotiations. The schedule for the round has not been decided. After the next round, terms may be finalised and the contract signed.
Will a steel plant be part of the project?
It’s purely a mining project in which we (consortium of SAIL, RINL, NMDC, JSW, JSW Ispat, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd and Monnet Ispat) were selected as the preferred bidder.
The exploration and basic infrastructure predates mining. Right now, we are focussing on the mining project. The steel plant could be a future project.
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