SteelMint, in conversation with senior officials of the industry, found out what all they have to share after Supreme Courts positive verdict – to grant permission to A and B category iron ore mines in the state of Karnataka, to resume operations.
R K Goyal, MD for Kalyani Steels Limited:
I was hopeful of a positive verdict from the Supreme Court and it has met the expectations.
Now, we would be getting more of material through e-auctions in future as availability is to increase over a period of time, once miners are done with the Rehabilitation & Resettlement Plan (R&R) and renewal approvals.
In the next couple of years, the state would be able to contribute about 22-24 million tons (MnT) of iron ore per annum.
Basant Poddar, VP at FIMI and MD for MEL:
I expect iron ore production in Karnataka to touch 15 MnT in FY 2013-14 as it would take another six months in minimum, for mines to resume operations.
For renewal of mines, it takes about one to one and a half year's time for a mine to restart operations. It requires Department of mines clearances, forest and environment clearances, Bureau of mines clearances and others.
It would take about two to three years time for iron ore production capacity in Karnataka to touch 27 MnT as mines with lesser production figures of about 20,0000 tons would not be able to contribute much.
A senior official of MSPL Limited:
It would take about one and a half month’s time for us to start mining as we are almost done with the required formalities of R&R plans.
The only part to be executed is the verification document which allows our mines to re-start.
From Supreme Court, it is to be submitted to Director of Mines & Geology, Bangalore and then to Deputy Director of mines and Geology, Hospet.
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