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The Goa government has started the process of auctioning five more iron ore mining blocks, all located in North Goa district, a senior official said. The state Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) had last month conducted the e-auctioning of four iron ore blocks, with an aim to pave way for the resumption of the state's iron ore mining industry in the state. The industry, which used to be one of the major revenue earners for the state, had come to a standstill in 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. "In the second phase, bids have been invited for the auctioning of Advalpale-Tivim Mineral Block, Cudnem-Cormolem Mineral Block, Cudem Mineral Block, Tivim-Pirna Mineral Block and Surla-Sonshi Mineral Block, the official from the DMG said on Tuesday. The last date for the submission of bids is March 27, 2023, he said. The e-auctioning of the leases would be held through the Metal Scrap Trading Corporation (MSTC).
In a development paving the way for resumption of iron ore mining in Goa, the state government announced on Wednesday that Vedanta Limited has emerged as successful bidder for a mining block auctioned earlier this year. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters that Vedanta was the highest bidder with 63.55 per cent revenue for Bicholim Mining Block, spread over 485 hectares. The state government had started the process to auction four mining blocks in the state including the Bicholim one earlier this year. The existing block was being operated by Vedanta itself before iron ore mining was stopped in the coastal state on the Supreme Court's orders in 2012. As many as 51 tender documents had been taken for the four blocks and eleven companies finally submitted their bids, Sawant said. Five companies had submitted bids for Bicholim Block, he added. State Director of Mines and Geology Suresh Shabhogue said the successful bidders will have to obtain fresh approvals including ...
State-owned NMDC on Tuesday said its iron ore production surged over 28 per cent to 32.88 million tonnes (MT) in April-January 2021-22. The company's iron ore output was 25.66 MT in the same period last fiscal, NMDC said in a regulatory filing. In January 2022, the company said its iron ore production rose to 4.56 MT from 3.86 MT a year ago. Its total sales of iron ore during the April-January period increased over 25 per cent to 32.60 MT from 26.01 MT a year ago. The company sold 4.24 MT iron ore in January 2022 compared to 3.74 MT in the year-ago month. The Hyderabad-headquartered NMDC, under the Ministry of Steel, is the country's largest iron ore mining company. It is also involved in the exploration of a wide range of minerals like copper, rock phosphate, limestone, dolomite and gypsum.