By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Why Odisha Government Silent over ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India’s Dispatch Shortfall? Why Government delaying penalty collection imposed on the Company for shortfall of 1,96,688.289 MT in dispatch from its Thakurani Iron Ore Block?.
AM/NS India, a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel, has announced the commencement of operations at the Ghoraburhani- Sagasahi iron ore mine in the district of Sundargarh.Spread across 139.165 hectares, the iron ore block has estimated resources of around 98.61million tonnes and is the first to be auctioned in India under the Mineral Auction Rule, 2015.
The captive mine is set to produce 2 million tonnes of high-quality iron ore in the current calendar year and production will gradually be ramped up to its rated capacity of 7.16 MTPA.
The iron ore will be supplied to the beneficiation plant in Dabuna from where the feed will reach the pellet plant at Paradeep.
It may be noted here that the Joda Joint Director of Mines, in State’s Keonjhar district had served a notice bearing no 4835 dated August 13, 2021, to AMNS citing demand on shortfall in despatch vis a vis the minimum dispatch required under Sub-Rule -1 of 12(A) of (Other than Atomic and Hydrocarbon Energy Mineral) concession Rules, 2016 in respect of Thakurani Iron Block of the Company.
As per the auction, annual target of minimum dispatch of iron ore has been agreed for 43,99,600.000 MT during the first year from 27.06.2020 to 26.06.21, but the Lessee had dispatched an quantity of 42,02,911.711 MT during the first year of lease with a shortfall 1,96,688.289 MT.
The Company had been asked to pay Rs 105,03,34,365 as part of differential amount payable towards applicable amount quoted under Rule-12 of Mineral Auction Rules, 2015(EPO multiplied with value of shortfall).
The Joint Director of Mines had also asked the Company to pay Rs 14,64,90,148 as part of differential amount payable as per Rule 13 of Mineral Auction Rules=15% of value of shortfall, Rs 1,46,49,015 as part of differential DMF payable as per Rule 13 of Mineral Auction Rules=10% of differential royalty, Rs 29,29,803 as part of differential NMET payable as per Rule 13 of Mineral Auction Rules=2% of differential royalty and Rs 23,43,84,238 as part of value of performance security to be appropriated.
The Joint Director of Mines had given 15 days of time to the Company to pay the above amount , otherwise, the Steel and Mines Department will take action to recover the amount.It may be noted here that Arcellor Mittal India Pvt Ltd had quoted 107.55% and declared as preferred bidder for the Block and the State Government had granted mining lease with letter no 2285/SM, dated 02.03.2020.
