Indian state-run miner NMDC Limited has approached the government of the eastern state of Odisha and the Ministry of mines seeking reservation of at least six iron ore mines in Odisha, a company official said on Thursday, July 11.
The official said that reservations of additional iron ore blocks had been sought for preferential allotment outside mandatory allocation through auctions, as permitted under the Mines, Minerals Regulation and Development Act 2015.
The additional iron ore blocks in Odisha would enable the miner to achieve its “Vision Plan” to increase total production from levels of around 35-40 million mt per year to 100 million mt per year by 2024-25, the official added.
The blocks that have been sought by NMDC Limited were to have been put up for auction of fresh mining leases by the government of Odisha.
The blocks sought by the miner include two iron ore blocks in Khandahar and one in the Keojhar district.