OREANDA-NEWS. Global producer Tata Steel plans to begin production in December at its 55,000t/yr Gopalpur ferro-chrome plant in India's northeast Odisha state.

The first phase was previously scheduled for commissioning by July but was delayed while Tata waited for mining to resume at its Sukinda chrome mines.

Odisha state has indicated that an extension to Tata's mining lease will be granted, but the firm is still waiting formal state-government approval of a new mining lease and supplementary lease for Sukinda.