4 more mines to be auctioned in Odisha soon

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said three iron ore blocks have been auctioned, four more blocks would be auctioned in the coming months.

Addressing the Asia Steel 2018 International Conference here, Patnaik appealed the steel industries to participate in the auctioning process.

He said the installed steel capacity, which was 4 million tonne per annum (mtpa) in 1999-2000, has reached to 33 mtpa with 47 steel industries in Odisha.

“My government has taken several initiatives over the years to facilitate setting up and operation of the industries. We have introduced the policy of long-term linkage of iron ore, chrome ore and other minerals to the state-based Industries through Odisha Mining Corporation Limited,” he said.

Patnaik said Odisha is a mineral rich state with abundant resources of iron ore, coal, chrome and other minerals.

He said the state government has been providing support for the development of mineral-based industries through the adoption of appropriate policies.

He said Odisha is producing about half the country’s iron ore.

“Because of indigenous availability of such high-grade Iron ore, the critical input for steel making, Odisha has a competitive advantage for the production of steel,” he added.