Chennai-based Green Coke and Energy Private Limited (Green Coke and Energy) has signed a pact with Kakinada Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Limited to establish a metallurgical coke plant in the Kakinada SEZ at a cost of Rs 7 bn. The project is set within the SEZ to leverage existing industrial infrastructure and logistics links on the Andhra Pradesh coast. Company and SEZ executives framed the agreement as a strategic step to bolster domestic metallurgical coke production for the steel sector.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by the managing director of Green Coke and Energy, Nagarajan, and the managing director and chief executive officer of Kakinada SEZ Limited, Ram Reddy. The plant will occupy 80 acres inside the SEZ and will produce metallurgical coke for use in steelmaking processes. The investment will be developed with site preparation and basic utilities provision planned within the SEZ precinct.

The investment is expected to expand industrial activity to Tondangi and Pitapuram in Kakinada district and provide employment opportunities locally. Local suppliers and logistics firms are anticipated to participate in the project supply chain, generating demand for services and inputs. SEZ management indicated that the project aligns with regional development plans and will use the zone's regulatory and infrastructure advantages to accelerate commissioning.

Company officials described the plant as part of wider efforts to strengthen domestic raw material availability for the steel industry and to attract further industrial investment into the coastal cluster. The arrangement is expected to support both skilled and unskilled employment while reinforcing the SEZ's role as an industrial hub. Project stakeholders said they will follow applicable environmental and safety standards during construction and operation. Stakeholders added that coordination with local authorities and SEZ agencies is planned to align the project with regional infrastructure upgrades and logistics improvements.