By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Big players like Jindal Steel and Power Limited, JSW Steel, Rungta Mines Ltd ,Tata Steel, ArcelorMittal, Essel Mining and Industries Limited, , MSP Limited, Vedanta and OMDC were among 38 Companies, has submitted their 123 bids for 11 Mineral blocks including 7 Virgin Blocks in Odisha.
The blocks are Nadidih (BICO), Purheibahal, Chandiposhi, Jumka Pathiriposhi Pahar, Dholtapahar, Netrabandha Pahar (West), Gandhalpada, Nadidih (FEEGRADE), Teherai, Kasia and Karlapat.
The four blocks, whose lease has already expired are Kasia Iron Ore & Dolomite Block, Nadidih Iron Ore Block (BICO), Nadidih Iron Ore & Manganese Block (FEEGRADE) and Teherai Iron ore & Manganese Block.
“August 24 was the last date for submission of bids and as many as 123 firms have submitted their bids for 11 blocks,” officials manning Odisha Director of Mines said on Wednesday.
Sources said, companies, which would qualify the technical bidding process will be allowed to participate in the financial bidding process set to begin from September 16.
On July 7, the government issued notice for auction of 11 mineral blocks including seven iron ore blocks, two composite blocks of iron ore and manganese, one composite block of iron ore and dolomite and a bauxite block for auction.
“In exercise of powers conferred by Section 10 (B) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and in accordance with the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 as amended from time to time notified thereunder, the Government of Odisha has identified 11 mineral blocks as under for electronic auction and hereby invites tenders for the purposes of grant of Mining Lease,” the directorate had earlier said.
Further, Sociedade De Fomento Industrial Private Ltd, Vishal LPG Industries and Tarama Apartment Private Ltd are debarred from participating in Nadidih Iron Ore Block (BICO), Nadidih Iron Ore and Manganese Block (FEEGRADE) and Teherai Iron Ore and Manganese Block, respectively.
The estimated iron ore reserve in these blocks is 574 million tones located at Pureibahal (38.30 Million Tonnes), Chandiposhi (33.73 MT), Jhumka-Pathiriposi (114 MT), Dholtapahad (23.92 MT), Netrabandha Pahar-West (17.27 MT) in Sundaragarh district; and Rengalaberha-North-East (28.87 MT), Gandhalpada (314.37 MT), Unchabali (3.6 MT) and Kalimati in Kendujhar district. While Kalimati is a manganese block (0.686 MT) and Unchabali is a mix of iron and manganese, the rest blocks are iron ore. Iron ore is the raw material for steel production.
The state auctioned all the 24 mines in FY21 whose lease got expired. As on date ,19 of the 24 auctioned mines have already started operation and production.These 24 Mines holds Iron Ore 1716.92 mt, Manganese 8.77 mt and Chrome Ore having 104.96 mt, which was worth Rs.4,87,082.55 Crore. Out of 24 Mineral Blocks, 11 are in Keonjhar, 8 in Sundargarh 03 in Jajpur and 1 in Mayurbhanj. Out of the 24 auctioned mines, production also started at 19 of these.
