India/S.Korea: Civil society group raises concerns of POSCO’s return to controversial Odisha steel project & calls for human rights due diligence
[Unofficial translation provided by Business and Human Rights Centre]
“[Press release] POSCO urged to uphold human rights and environmental responsibility in Odisha steel plant project, 20 April 2026”
KTNC Watch has issued a statement expressing concern over POSCO’s decision to reinitiate its steel plant project in Odisha, India.
- On 17 April, JSW, India’s largest steel group, approved at a board meeting a project to establish an integrated steel plant with an annual capacity of six million tonnes in Odisha, in a 50:50 joint venture with POSCO. (…)
- The KTNC Watch recalls POSCO’s earlier steel plant project in Dhinkia, Odisha, which it pursued from 2005 before withdrawing following strong opposition from local residents and controversies over alleged human rights and environmental violations. It expresses deep concern over POSCO’s renewed efforts to pursue a steel plant project in the state.
- Since 2005, POSCO had advanced the Odisha steel plant project without adequate prior assessment of the number of residents affected by the proposed site, whether those residents included indigenous communities, or the environmental risks associated with the construction. During this process, the project drew domestic and international criticism, including over forced land acquisition and other alleged human rights and environmental abuses. (…)
- POSCO ultimately withdrew from the Dhinkia steel plant project in Odisha in 2017 after years of conflict and controversy (…) However, as JSW has continued to pursue the project, residents reportedly remain subject to repression by Odisha state authorities and ongoing threats of land acquisition. (…)
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6. As early as 13 years ago, the United Nations recommended (…) the implementation of human rights and environmental due diligence in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. POSCO should therefore disclose whether it is currently conducting, or plans to conduct, such due diligence in relation to the proposed steel plant in Keonjhar, Odisha. (…)
7. The KTNC Watch warns that if POSCO proceeds with its planned investment of KRW 80 billion in the steel plant project without conducting environmental and human rights due diligence, it risks undermining international trust in overseas investments by Korean companies more broadly (…)