Damage to Visakhapatnam pellet plant limited; to resume soon: Essar

NEW DELHI: Essar Steel today said its eight million tonne per annum pellet plant at Visakhapatnam has received "limited" damage from the recent cyclone and will be restarted by the weekend.

"In the recent cyclone that hit Visakhapatnam, our 8 mtpa pellet plant has suffered limited damage. Some utilities and peripheral facilities are also damaged. However, there is minimal damage to the main plant," Essar Steel said in a statement.

Essar said the pellet plant's 'sturdy' design and the adequate precautions taken at the plant site before the cyclone hit the plant saved it from any major destruction.

"While the efforts are on to restore the plant site, the main plant will be restarted by the weekend," it added.

The pellet plant at Visakhapatnam provides raw material to Essar's 10 mtpa steel plant at Hazira in Gujarat.