By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/JODA/KOIRA: of the 14, 13 of these blocks are virgin blocks, one block is a working mine.A total of 14 iron ore, manganese and composite blocks of iron and manganese have been listed for auction in November last week or first week of December, the official said.
The 9 iron ore and manganese blocks ready for auction include Purheibahal, Chandiposhi, Gandhalpada, Netrabandha Pahar (west), Dholtapahar, Jumka Pathriposhi, Kalimati, Unchabali and Kasia. The Steel and Mines department has also decided to auction 5 other limestone and graphite mines.
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.
Early this year, Odisha Government had successfully auctioned at least 23 Iron, Manganese and Chrome Ore Blocks having resources worth Rs.4.87 Lakh Crore by 18 March, 2020. The State got one of the highest premiums like 144 percent in auction of one of its mineral blocks – Guali Iron Ore mines bagged by JSPL.Out of 23 mineral blocks, 11 are in Keonjhar, 08 in Sundargarh, 03 in Jajpur and 01 in Mayurbhanj.
Odisha is the highest steel producing State in the country and the production target is 100 million tonnes per annum by 2030. With new reforms and auction process, now the responsibility of setting up of the Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) and getting environmental clearance and forest clearance lies on the State Government.
Sources said Rungta Mines Limited Group, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, Essel Mining and Industries Ltd, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Group, Serajuddin &Co, JSW Steel, Vedanta, Tatas, Thriveni Earth Movers Pvt Ltd, and others also eyeing on these virgin blocks.
