Tough times ahead for Odisha metal industries as state doubles energy duty

Odisha has half the nation's aluminium capacity and nearly 80% of the ferrochrome capacity

The Odisha government’s move to double the electricity duty for captive power plants from 30 paise a unit to 60 paise a unit is likely to hit power-intensive metal processing industries.
 
The aluminium and ferrochrome producers like Vedanta, Nalco, Hindalco, Jindal Steel and Power, Utkal Alumina, Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys, Navbharat,  etc, for which power accounts for nearly half the input cost, are dependent on their captive generation plants (CGPs) to keep their cost of production in check and be competitive in the global market.
 
But the proposed hike in electricity duty for CGPs, which will make