- Manganese block awarded with 3.60 mnt resources
- Low-grade ore underscores need for beneficiation
Odisha’s Kendudihi-Parulipada Manganese and Dolomite Block was auctioned on 25 August 2026, with Eswaravaka Venkatakrishna emerging as the preferred bidder at a final offer of 162.45%. The block holds 3.60 mnt of indicated manganese resources at a 10% Mn cut-off, averaging 17.60% Mn. However, only 0.36 mnt is high-grade material above 46% Mn, while 3.09 mnt is sub-grade material averaging 12.93% Mn.
The resource is predominantly fine ore, with no lumpy-ore resource estimated, making beneficiation and processing economics important for future utilisation. The block is at G2 exploration status, based on 82 boreholes covering 4,590.6 m of drilling. With several statutory clearances still required, the auction is more relevant to India’s long-term manganese resource base than near-term ore availability.
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