According to market rumors, a consortium of Indian steel companies is mostly likely to win the tender to develop the Hajigak iron ore mines in Afghanistan.
The tender was opened on September 6, 2011. Companies from the US, Canada, India and Iran have handed in their bids. Market analysts have expressed the view that the India companies are mostly likely to win the bid.
The iron ore mines are located in the area of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, with total reserves of 1.8 billion mt. The estimated investment in the project will be $6 billion.
A consortium of seven Indian companies, including Steel Authority of India (SAIL), NMDC, JSW Steel, JSW Ispat, Monnet Ispat and Energy, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam and Jindal Steel & Power have made a bid to develop the Hajigak iron ore mines. SAIL holds a 20 percent stake in the consortium