Iron ore production by privately owned miners in the state of Karnataka, India is likely to resume in July, according to international media reports.
After a halt in iron ore mining due to illegal mining activities, India's Mines Minister Dinsha Patel said that, while the initial production from the state will only be delivered to local steel mills, the resumption of iron ore mining activities will help the country to regain its 100 million mt of average annual exports, mainly to China, in FY 2012-13.
In July 2011, the Supreme Court of India banned iron ore mining in Karnataka causing some steelmakers such as JSW Steel to operate at lower capacities due to iron ore shortage.