Amaravati,  Nov 9 (KNN) Union Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan has given nod to Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy’s request for the supply of iron ore from National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) to the proposed steel plant at YSR Kadapa district.

Moreover, the state would get Rs 2 lakh crores investments in the next five years in petroleum and steel sectors while world leaders in petroleum sector are keen to invest in Andhra Pradesh, which Pradhan said, would help boost the revenue and generate more job opportunities.

During a meeting with the Chief Minister at the Secretariat in Velagapudi on Friday, reviewing a gamut of oil and gas and steel projects in the State, the Union Minister said an autonomous petroleum institute would be set up in Andhra Pradesh to create skilled work force.

Jagan explained his government’s efforts to rope in globally acclaimed companies to set up a steel plant in Kadapa. Responding positively, Pradhan directed his officials to have an Mutual of Undersatnding (MoU) signed between the state government and NMDC shortly.

Pradhan also directed the ONGC to clear the compensation of Rs 81 crore for 16,554 fishermen of Bhairavapalem village in East Godavari district who were affected by the off-shore drilling by the ONGC Limited.

Jagan requested to the Union Minister to set up a Greenfield crude oil refinery ad petrochemical complex in Kakinada to fulfil the provision in Section 93 (4) of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Jagan also stressed on setting up of a petroleum university in Kakinada to meet skilled manpower requirement of the upcoming ONGC major project KG-DWN 98/2, on the occasion, the chairmen of ONGC and HPCL thanked the State government for sorting out the land issue related to pipelines. The CM said that the State would cooperate and extend all possible help to the Centre and is firm on rapid industrialisation.

Earlier, when Pradhan met Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan at Raj Bhavan, the latter asked him to ensure speedy completion of his ministry’s projects in the State.

Pradhan promised to extend help from his ministry and invited the Governor to visit ONGC KG Basin facilities.

The meeting was attended by Union Secretary for Steel Binoy Roy, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Amarnath, NMDC CMD Sasi Shankar, HPCL CMD Mukesh Kumar Surana, RINL CMD PK Rath among others.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and CM Jagan Mohan Reddy taking part in a meeting at the Secretariat in Velgapudi on Friday. (KNN/ KS)

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