In early December 2012, the plant closed due to a lack of bauxite and despite offering top dollar to its rivals, Vedanta has been unable to restart the plant.Vedanta president and COO Mukesh Kumar said the plant had been pleading for bauxite for some time. In a letter to Odisha’s Steel & Mines Secretary he insisted that urgent action be taken in line with a Memorandum of Understanding between Vedanta and the Government of Odisha way back in June 2003 and amended in April 2007.
Kumar said that the plant’s closure had impacted the overall economy of the area, leaving thousands jobless. Those directly affected are planning to meet Naveen Ptnaik, Odisha’s chief minister to put their case.
