Russian experts to work out plan to modernize steel mill

Russian delegation calls on CM Sindh

 KARACHI: The Russian experts, on the request of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah have agreed to submit their proposals for modernization of Steel Mill for which a study visit would be conducted.

This was emerged on Tuesday when a delegation of St. Petersburg, Russia led by its Advisor Andrey Zubal called on CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and discussed the projects.

The Government of St. Petersburg, Russia has shown its interest to work with the Sindh government  on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode in hydro-treatment facilities, waste processing and waste-to-energy sectors, says spokesman of CM House.

The chief minister said that the Russian Government has constructed a huge project of Steel Mills in Karachi. Now, the mills needed not only to be overhauled but had to be modernized to need the present steel production requirements.

The visiting delegation decided to send their team to visit the mill to assess the requirements for its modernization.

Chief Minister said that he has already constituted a provincial ministers committee to study the issues of the mill and recommend their resolution.

“The mill was established with the personal efforts of the then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and we want it to flourish,” he said.

The meeting decided to take up the modernization of the steel project and its feasibility and mode would be studied and shared with the provincial government.

Energy: The meeting also decided to study the feasibility of establishing a 50 MW power waste-to-energy plant at Dhabeji.

The chief minister told the Russian delegation that there was a railway line from Karachi to Dhabeji where a power plant can be installed. Another site for the project could be Jam Chakro.

The experts of St. Petersburg would visit the sites to finalize the project.

Projects of Karachi

The projects about establishment of water distribution system in Karachi and installation of treatment plants were also came under discussion.

The St. Petersburg experts would hold more meetings with the provincial government’s concerned departments and visit the sites to choose the projects of their choice.

The delegation has submitted a conceptual proposal to the provincial government for a solid waste management system.

The delegation members included Mr Rus Welding, Consul General of Russia in Karachi Dr Aleksandr G Khozin, Mr Ahmed Rana of Concord Ventures (PVT) limited, Attaché, and Russian Consulate Mr Pavel Yamanov.

The chief minister was assisted by Minister Local Government Syed Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Chairman P&D M. Waseem, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, and Secretary Energy Tariq Shah.

It may be noted that Foreign Minister of Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov arrived Islamabad today on a two-day visit of Pakistan.