As per recent updates received by SteelMint from industry participants, the Honorable Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday (15th July) said e-auction of material lying at jetties and plots will begin in about next 15-20 days. Also, the honorable CM added that the mining of dumps would be permitted within six months.
In 2012, the apex court had declared all the mining held post 2007 as illegal and said all the ore lying at jetties and plots (15 MnT) is state’s property. Last iron ore e-auction from Goa was conducted on 05 May’17. So far, Goa DMG has managed to sell around 10.9 MnT iron ore out of 15.5 MnT iron ore identified via 21 e-auctions conducted so far since auctions started in the state from Feb’14 onwards.
The Supreme Court of India in early Feb’18 said that the 88 iron ore mine leases that were granted second renewal in violation are directed to stop all mining operations with effect from 16 Mar’18 until fresh mining leases are granted and fresh environmental clearances are granted. Thus the 2nd renewal granted to the mines by state of Goa is liable to be set aside and stands quashed.
The mines were permitted to export iron ore mined previously to the ban imposition, on which royalty was paid, and material lying at jetties, with the halt in new mining operations. Out of the total 88 mining leases, few were amalgamated owing to common environmental clearances, reducing to 37 working and 31 non working mines.
Impact of Goa mining ban on Indian exports
Post mining ban imposition towards Mar’18, the Indian exports fell significantly in FY19 to 6.87 MnT against 15.72 MnT in FY18, according to data maintained with SteelMint.
Leave a Reply