SAIL expects to become India’s largest iron ore miner in 18 months

India's Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) expects to become the country's largest iron ore miner, outgrowing NMDC Limited, over the next 18 months, C S Verma, chairman and managing director of SAIL, said in a media interview on Friday, July 6.
 
In the next 18 months, SAIL's iron ore production will reach 42 million mt per year with steelmaking capacity moving up to 24 million mt per year from 16 million mt per year at present, he said.
 
Iron ore production by NMDC will reach 40 million mt per year over the next three years, Verma said.
 
Current iron ore production of SAIL stands at 25 million mt per year against 28 million mt per year by NMDC Limited.
 
Verma is the chairman and managing director of SAIL as well as of NMDC Limited, both owned by the Indian government.