Odisha Govt To Provide Ore To Vedanta From Kodingamali Mines

Bhubaneswar: The state government is planning to supply bauxite to Vedanta’s Lanjigarh Alumina plant from Kodingamali bauxite mines in Koraput, said Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick on Wednesday.

“The mining PUS Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has got mining lease of Kodingamali mines. We are planning to feed Vedanta’s Lanjigarh alumina plant from this mines once production starts,” said Mallick.

The government would provide raw material to Vedanta as per the long-term ore linkage policy.

Even though OMC has got the mining lease, it is yet to get forest clearance for the mines from Centre.

The mines has a reserve of 84 million tonne of bauxite, said sources.

Currently, 70 per cent of the bauxite requirement of the Lanjigarh refinery is being met through import from other states-Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Vedanta is importing the balance 30 per cent from resource-rich nations like New Guinea.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has decided to auction five mines in the state.

“We have decided to auction five mines by August end or first week of September. The mines include four limestone and one manganese mines,” said Mallick.

The five mines are Kotameta and Usakalabhagu in Malkangiri district, one in Garamara in Nuapada district, Jampali in Bargarh distirct and a manganese mine at Lasarda Pacheri in Keonjhar district.