New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will next week lay the foundation stone of Llyods Metals & Energy Limited's (LMEL) 4.5-million tonne steel project in Gadchiroli district of the state.

The plant is the first integrated steel project in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, the company said in a statement.

Fadnavis will lay the foundation stone for the 4.5-MnTPA capacity at Konsari on July 22, 2025. He will also inaugurate the 5 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MnTPA) iron ore grinding plant at Hedri in Gadchroli district.

The grinding plant has been constructed by the Llyods Metals & Energy Limited (LMEL) and made functional in a record time of just one year.

LMEL MD B Prabhakaran said: "Not only the foundation stone for Vidarbha first Integrated Steel Plant is being laid at Konsari in Gadchiroli district, but also a step is being taken towards seeing the historic dream turning into a reality." Along with the iron ore grinding plant, a 10 MnTPA capacity slurry pipeline project will be inaugurated. The slurry pipeline is particularly noteworthy as Maharashtra's very first operational iron ore slurry pipeline.

The 85-km slurry pipeline establishes a logistics link between Hedri and the pellet plant at Konsari, ensuring reliable ore transportation while lowering the carbon footprint by 55 per cent, enhancing the overall efficiency and commercial viability of material movement across its operations. PTI ABI HVA

Infrastructure development: foundation of an integrated steel plant and commissioning of slurry pipeline to improve ore logistics and cut emissions. The announcement records commencement of construction for a new Integrated Steel Plant at Konsari and inauguration of an iron ore grinding plant at Hedri by Llyods Metals & Energy Limited, coupled with commissioning of an iron ore slurry pipeline linking Hedri to the Konsari pellet plant to improve logistics and reduce the operation's carbon footprint by over half.