Page 2 - Mines

Union at BHP's Escondida mine in Chile rejects contract, firm seeks talks

The talks, once confirmed by authorities, will last for 5 to 10 days, according to Chilean labor law. If no agreement is reached, a strike would begin

Govt plans incentive for starting production early from auctioned mines

The mines ministry plans to do the same through amendment of the mining rules and has sought comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the same.

Restarting stalled mines can help achieve $5 trn economy target: Agarwal

Metals and mining magnate Anil Agarwal on Tuesday said around 500 mines in the country are currently not operational due to various disputes

Repealing certain MMDR Act sections to send wrong signal to investors: FIMI

The repealing of certain sections of the MMDR Act amounting to cancellation of mining leases already granted would send a wrong signal to both domestic and global investors, said FIMI

K'taka govt holding extension of Donimalai mine lease unreasonable: NMDC

The Donimalai mine was mired in controversy over renewal resulting in the cancellation of lease last year

11-member panel to examine issues on royalty rates for major minerals

The members of the panel includes mines secretaries from the states like Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha

Ferro-alloy industry stares at sizeable job loss as mines shut down

Demand-supply mismatch could further affect domestic steel production

Steel sector may face disruption in iron ore supplies with 232 mines expiry

With the leases of 232 merchant iron ore mines expiring in March next year, the country may face a short-term disruption in supply of the main ingredient used in making steel, Acuite Ratings & Research Ltd said today. "The expiring leases can potentially curtail about 25-30 per cent of the country's iron ore production, taking into account the expiring leases of other states as well," Acuite Ratings & Research Ltd said in its latest report. Iron ore is the main ingredient used in making steel. Consequently, any significant delay with respect to auctions and more specifically lease transfers will affect iron ore supply and prices, thereby putting further pressure on sector profitability. Non-integrated steel companies, which do not have access to captive iron ore mines, will be relatively more vulnerable in the event of such delay. Therefore, a smooth transition in the lease transfers through the upcoming auction process along with the expected increase in pellet availability ..

More than 260,000 people in danger of losing jobs over lapsing mines

The validity of 329 mining leases will cease by March 31, causing job losses for 264,000

Karnataka's Dept of Mines & Geology defers e-auction of Donimalai mine

Move follows an order by the Mines Tribunal staying the Karnataka govt's decision tp cancel the Donimalai mining lease to NMDC

Centre may extend approvals for lapsing mining leases

The step, if implemented, will ensure hassle-free auctions of the mines besides facilitating seamless change in ownership

Speed up plan to develop mines in districts, says Parliamentary panel

The DMF has been created in each district under the provisions of Mines and Minerals Amendment Act, 2015 and falls under the purview of the Ministry of Mines

Miners want blocks free from encumbrances at auctions

As development of a mine gets stuck due to delays in obtaining a string of approvals, miners have asked for making the process hassle free at the stage of auctions.Before a mining block is offered for auctions as direct ML (mining lease), the concerned state government should ensure that it is free from all encumbrances."The mining lease being auctioned should be free from all encumbrances. No issue related to forest land, wild life sanctuary, proximity to protected monuments and permission from the land owners should crop up once the successful bidder starts obtaining clearances for land", said R K Sharma, secretary general with the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (Fimi).In case of auction of a mineral block as direct ML, the successful bidder is tied to a time bound programme to develop the mines and to bring the mine to production failing which the bidder is liable to face penalties.The preferred bidder who wins the mineral block at auctions gets a Letter of Intent (LoI) ...

Pollution watchdog slaps notices on two chromite mines of IMFA

Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has served notices on two chromite mines of Indian Metals and Ferroalloys (IMFA), the leading ferroalloys producer in the country. Incidentally, IMFA is promoted by the family of Baijayant Panda, a senior BJD leader and MP, who has raked up a political storm by exposing certain weakness in the functioning of the ruling party in Odisha through his Twitter handle and newspaper articles. OSPCB notices have been served on IMFA's Kaliapani mines in the Sukinda valley on the ground of violation of air and water pollution norms. IMFA is India's largest fully integrated producer of ferroalloys with 187 MVA installed furnace capacity backed up by 258 MW captive power generation. The two mines measuring 116.76 hectare and 73.77 hectare were producing over 0.8 million tonne of chrome ore per annum which are used to produce ferrochrome by the company.OSPCB has asked the company to explain within 15 days why the 'consent to operate' (CTO) granted to ...

Centre asks states to speed up pending mining lease cases

Urgency stems from the fact that leases would lapse if applications aren't processed before Jan 11

Mines ministry unlikely to lift export duty on high grade iron ore

Fimi, Odisha and Jharkhand have been lobbying for removal of 30% export duty on high grade ore

India mines minerals worth Rs 17,339 cr in July

Of this, the contribution from coal was the highest with 36 per cent share at Rs 6,238 crore

Ores dumped can't be touched till SC orders: Goa mines dept

Six-member committee constituted by the apex court is yet to decide on how to deal with the minerals lying as dumps

Mines Min working on action plan to raise contribution in GDP

Mines Secretary told that by the end of this financial year, ministry expect states will be able to auction 70-80 mines

States seek green clearance for mining & exploration

Mines Ministry pitches for tripartite agreement to fast tract exploration