Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government owned miner Odisa
Mining Corporation (OMC) has plans to increase its chrome ore production to
10-12 lakh tonnes per annum in the next 8 months by increasing production at
its existing South Kaliapani mines. The production has come down in the recent
years, due to non-availability of forest clearance at its major mines.
“We’ll increase chrome ore production at our South
Kaliapani mines after getting forest clearance. With this we are expecting to
boost our chrome ore production capacity to 10-12 lakh tonnes annum within 8
months from now “said Saswat Mishra, CMD Odisha Mining Corporation.
“We’ll also be operating in few small mines within
the next 2-3years,which would boost our capacity further†he said.
Nearly all of
India’s chrome ore is produced in Odisha. Apart from few small merchant chrome
miners like B.C.Mohanty and Mishrilal and Company, OMC supplies over 70%
merchant chrome ore requirement of the country and it is expected to be the
major Chrome ore supplier in the 10 to 15 years. “We’ll continue to be the
major merchant Chrome ore supplier for the next 10 to 15years†he said.
Few players such
as Tata Steel, Indian Metal and Ferro alloys, FACOR and Balasore Alloys have
also their captive mines in the state. Chrome ore finds its usage primarily in
stainless steel industries, apart from its use in refractories. Apart from
those who own captive mines there are many other Odisha-based industries which depend
upon OMC supplies to run their units.
Reported by: Tapan Moharana
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