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The government is considering merging pellet maker KIOCL with iron ore major NMDC. Union Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that KIOCL is in critical condition. "The process is on to consider merging KIOCL and NMDC. KIOCL has also reported losses," he said on the sidelines of a press meet here to announce a revival package of Rs 11,440 crore for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL). The minister said the situation has occurred due to non-cooperation of the state (Karnataka) government. KIOCL Ltd, under the Ministry of Steel, operates a 3.5 million tonne per annum (MTPA) iron-oxide pellet plant and a blast furnace unit to manufacture 2.16 lakh tonne per annum pig iron at Mangaluru, Karnataka. NMDC is also an entity operating under the Steel Ministry. It caters to India's 20 per cent of iron ore demand.
State-owned KIOCL on Thursday requested stock exchanges BSE, NSE and MSE to waive about Rs 17 lakh fine imposed on the company for non-compliance with norms related to appointment of independent directors. The fine levied by exchanges has no impact on the financial, operation or other activities of the company, KIOCL said in a BSE filing. The non-compliance with norms on the composition of the board was neither due to any negligence/default by the company nor within the control of KIOCL's management, and continuous efforts were made to meet the compliance requirements. "NSE, BSE and Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India (MSE) have levied fine of Rs 5,42,800 each (incl GST) for the non-compliance with regulation-17(1) i.e., half of the board was not independent, for the quarter ended September 30, 2023," KIOCL said. It further said the company is a government-owned entity where President of India has the power to appoint directors (including independent director) on the board. All .