The ferro chrome producers, without captive mines in Odisha have requested the state government to extend the chrome ore mining leases, where mineral is used for other than captive purposes, upto 31Mar’20 as per the MMDR Amendment Ordinance. Tata Steel, Mishrilal Mines and B.C. Mohanty have been major suppliers of chrome ore and chrome concentrate to the Odisha based ferro chrome plants. Where the Tata mines in Sukinda produced 1.84 mnt chrome ore in 2011-12, they are currently producing only 0.25 tonnes pa of the material. The other two mines are closed on want of renewal upto 31 Mar’20.
In a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the producers under the banner of Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC) have written that due to the drop in production and stoppage in supplies of the mineral from Tata Steel, Mishrilal Mines and B.C. Mohanty mines there is acute shortage of 1.75 mnt pa of chrome ore in the state. This has resulted in loss of revenue to Odisha government and unviable prices of chrome ore creating financial stress for ferro chrome producers in Odisha.
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