By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: The Jharkhand’s Chaibasa Headquarters Rungta Mines Ltd, which was lost its Jajang Iron Ore Block in Odisha’s mineral rich Keonjhar district to Sajjan Jindal led JSW Steel, the leading Merchant miner is now gearing up to defend all other running mines under Koira-Joda circle of the State.
Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel bagged Jajang iron ore block in Keonjhar district by committing to pay 110 per cent of sale value of the ore to the state government. This is the fourth mines the JSW Steel owned during the ongoing auction.
Apart from Jajang block, which was already auctioned, RML and its subsidiaries Bonai Industries Company Pvt Ltd, Freegrade Company Pvt Ltd owned Nadidihi Iron Ore block, Nadidihi, Rengalibeda & Nadikasira Iron Ore and Manganese Block, Kolmong and Teherai Iron Ore block, which will be put for auction in next few days.
Sources said, RML may go to any extent to defend its other running mines, which are next in line. Top officials of RML are monitoring the online bidding from Chaibasa in Jharkhand while Company officials both in Keonjhar-Sundargarh spending sleepless nights to defend their mines because of the aggressive bidding by some big Steel makers as well as Merchant miners.
Besides RML’s Mines, Mahulsukha Iron & Mn Ore of M/s A.M.T.C. (P) Ltd, Gorumahisani Iron ore of M/s G.S. Mishra & Sons, Jaribahal Iron Ore of M/s Patnaik Minerals Pvt. Ltd, Jururi Iron Ore of M/s Kalinga Mining Corporation and Badampahar Iron ore 129.61 6.16 M/s Lal Traders &Agencies (P) Ltd.(Put on hold for Court case) are on line for auction.
Meanwhile, after Serajuddin& Co, which retained its Balda Iron Ore Mines, KN Ram Mines of Atha Group, was the second lease holder, which defended its existing mines by retaining Roida II iron ore block in Odisha’s Keonjhar, sources said on Saturday.
KN Ram Mines held Roida II iron ore block in Odisha’s Keonjhar was 8th mines among 19 was put for auction. Sources said the bidding for Roida II Iron Ore began at a floor price of 79.20 per cent while Khatau Narbheram & Co on Friday retained Roida-II iron ore block in Odisha’s Keonjhar district at a premium of 90.90 per cent. Roida II is one of the mines reserved for the specified end users for production of sponge and pig iron, and steel.
The other bidders were for this block with iron reserve of 27.188 million tonnes in Keonjhar district are:-Shyam Sel (79 per cent), Super Smelter Ltd (78.6 per cent), Bhagwati Power & Steel Ltd (78.5 per cent), Narbheram (78.5 per cent), API Ispat (78.15 per cent), Shree Bajrang (77.90 per cent) RP Sao (77.75 per cent), Gallantt Ispat Ltd (77.6 per cent) and Shyam Steel (77.35 per cent)
So far bidding of 8 of the 19 enlisted mines has been completed.JSW has won four blocks – Nuagaon (January 31),Narayanposhi (February 2) and Ganua (February 5) and Jajang (January 6) – with total ore reserve of 1,138.34 million tonnes.Shyam Ore bagged the Jilling-Langalota iron ore block in Odisha’s Keonjhar district by committing to pay 135 per cent of sale to the Odisha government on Wednesday (February 5).
On Tuesday (February 4), Serajuddin and Co retained Balda iron ore block during the auction that went past midnight (2.41 am). ArcelorMittal India Pvt Ltd had won Thakurani iron ore block notified for auction in Odisha on Monday (February 3).On February 8, KN Ram Mines retained its Roida-II block.
