India: Goa announces fourth tranche of mining lease auctions, six mineral blocks on offer

• Vedanta-linked blocks re-enter auction after lease lapses
• Production cap of 20 million tonnes remains

Goa has announced the fourth tranche of mining lease auctions since mining operations resumed following a prolonged stoppage. The auction includes five previously operated iron ore mines in North Goa and one combined iron and manganese block in South Goa.

Among the blocks on offer are the Adwalpale and Pissurlem that Vedanta’s Sesa Goa operated before Goa’s leases were deemed to have lapsed by the Supreme Court. While the state has auctioned 12 blocks thus far, in three tranches, the majority of them are not operational. Blocks, including those bagged by Vedanta have faced operational challenges due to local issues. Iron ore production from these auctioned operational mines stood at 0.7 mnt in FY’26 (till Dec’25), according to data maintained with BigMint.

The current set of blocks may also take permitted production capacity to 20 million tonnes, a ceiling imposed by the country’s highest court, that the state has not managed to relax.

The fourth tranche features two blocks in Pissurlem and two in Cudnem.

Pissurlem Blocks:

• Block XVI covers areas in Sattari Taluka formerly mined by Sesa Sterlite and Geetabala Manohar Naik Parulekar.
• Block XV comprises two former leases: Deulem Pissurlem Iron Ore Mine(T.C. No. 70/1951) and Gaval Sonshi Iron Ore Mine (T.C. No. 110/1953).

Cudnem Blocks:

• Block XIV consists of Dignem Iron Ore Mine (T.C. No. 92/1952), formerly operated by Sociedade Timblo Irmaos Limitada Pvt. Ltd and located 3.5-4.0 km from the Mandovi River.
• Block XIII comprises Cazreachem Cundem Iron Ore Mines (T.C. No. 51/1952) previously leased to Kunda Raghuvir Gharse.

The Cavorem-Maina iron and manganese block in Quepem Taluka of South Goa combines three former lease areas: Joleracho Donger (Maina) Iron Ore Mine, Devapan/Devadongar Iron and Manganese Ore Mine, and Betegal (Maina) Iron Ore Mine.

The last date for purchase of tender document after payment of a tender fee on website e-auction platform provider is 16 Mar’26 and last date for bid submission is 23 Mar’26.