India orders state-owned enterprises to operate idle mines

India's Ministry of Steel has commissioned public sector enterprises (PSUs) to start mining at their dormant mines. Union Metals Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh gave the order during a meeting with the CEOs of the Steel Authority of India (Sail), NMDC and Manganese Ore India (MOIL).

“The Minister of Ferrous Metallurgy has expressed concern that some mines have not been commissioned,” the ministry said in a statement. The Minister of Ferrous Metallurgy instructed the interested enterprises of the central public sector to finalize the roadmap for the start of mining at these non-state enterprises (working lease of the mine).

“The minister has instructed steel producers to accelerate compliance with regulatory requirements to avoid expiration of the mine lease. The CPSE has been instructed to submit a status report to the minister as soon as possible, ”he adds.

Separately, it is worth noting that the Odisha government has announced a tender to put six mineral blocks up for electronic auction. Six blocks include one iron ore and manganese mine, four limestone and one graphite mines. While no limestone and graphite blocks are being mined, this is the government's second attempt to auction off Teherai's iron and manganese block.

The Mines Directorate under the Metals and Mines Department only invited digital applications, while technical applications were offered in both digital and physical formats. The deadline for the procurement of tender documents is November 29; Bids are accepted until December 6.

The cost of tender documents for each limestone block is INR 200,000 (US $ 2,664) and INR 500,000 (US $ 6,659) for the Teherai iron ore and manganese block.