Tripartite meet on Posco project on August 25: Odisha Steel and Mines Minister

BHUBANESWAR: The much-awaited tri-partite meeting on the country's biggest FDI project proposed by Posco is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on August 25, Odisha Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick said today.

"The tri-partite meeting involving the central government, government of Odisha and Posco representatives will be held in New Delhi on Tuesday (August 25)," Mallick told reporters here.

The Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of steel and mines ministries and Posco representatives will attend the meeting.

Odisha will be represented by its Chief Secretary and the Steel and Mines Secretary.

"The state government wants to know the South Korean steel company's approach towards the Jagatsinghpur project. Let them clearly state what kind of help they want... We are ready to provide Posco long-term supply linkage for the project," Mallick said.

The meeting follows Union Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar's clarification that the South Korean steel major will have to participate in open bidding for its raw material linkage as per the MMDR Act, 2015.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had held a review meeting about Posco's proposed greenfield project on August 20.

The steel giant has meanwhile announced its plan to put the Odisha project on hold.