Sumitomo Metal and Bhushan Steel Ltd, which had recently agreed to build a steel project jointly in West Bengal, are now understood to be looking at Karnataka as a second destination, as Karnataka is increasingly seen as being easier to operate compared to other traditional steelmaking states. Sumitomo signed a technology transfer agreement with Bhushan Steel in December last and had also expressed interest in jointly building the proposed 6-million tonne steel plant in Asansol in West Bengal.
