After completing the auction of 11 iron ore mines in the current, year, the government of the Indian state of Goa has begun the process of identifying new mines to be put up for bidding in 2025, a government source said on Monday, December 30.
The source said that the next auction of iron ore assets will be as per the rules imposed by an Indian Supreme Court verdict that puts a cap of 20 million mt per year on exports.
The government has already decided on a mechanism for maximum permissible production limits so that the aggregate export cap set by the Supreme Court can be adhered to, the sources added.
Of the 11 blocks for which auctions were completed during the year, two blocks have started production, another five have received environment clearances (ECs), while the rest are awaiting ECs from the authorities, the sources said.
Iron ore mining activity in Goa resumed in April 2024 after the previous Supreme Court-imposed ban on mining activity in the state, with Vedanta Sesa Goa beginning fresh extraction from the Bicholim iron ore block which was secured at an auction.
