Essar now eyes multi-product SEZ at Hazira

Essar now eyes multi-product SEZ at Hazira
HARIT MEHTA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2007 12:35:48 AM]

AHMEDABAD: After steel and subsequently engineering, the Essar group now
plans to convert its upcoming special economic zone (SEZ) at Hazira into
a multi-product SEZ. The group has recently filed an application with
the state government and has started the process of acquiring additional
land for the project. This means the group will have two multi-product
SEZs in Gujarat.

Originally, the group had planned to set up a steel SEZ at Hazira.
Subsequently, it sought permission to convert it into an engineering
SEZ. The engineering SEZ, which was likely to come up on 267 hectares,
has been cleared by the Board of Approvals.

Essar SEZ Hazira had signed an agreement with the state government
during the recently concluded Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit
to develop a steel plant and a deep-water port and allied facilities at
Surat. The company pledged total investments of Rs 12,750 crore.

State government sources said the company wants to further convert it
into a multi-product SEZ. "Essar now wants to develop a multi-product
SEZ instead of an engineering zone," said a senior state department
official. When contacted the company declined to comment.The group has
already got a BOA approval for its multi-product SEZ at Jamnagar, which
will come up over 1,000 hectares. The Hazira SEZ will be almost as big
in terms of area as its Jamnagar multi-product SEZ.

The company proposes to augment its steel manufacturing capacity to nine
million tonnes at Hazira. Sources say the company is talking to
automobile major Nissan and component manufacturer Manineto for setting
up facilities in the Hazira SEZ.

Besides, the group has also got the approval for power SEZ at Suvali in
Surat. The group also plans to expand its cargo handling capacity at
Hazira to 35 million tonnes in order to cater to the increased
requirement of industry.
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