The flagship entity of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), is looking to develop and explore small mines to meet its iron-ore requirement.
SAIL has its captive iron ore mines at Kiriburu, Meghahatuburu, Gua, Manoharpur (Chiria) in Jharkhand, Bolani, Kalta, Barsua(including Taldih), in Odisha. And its BSP iron ore mines at Rajhara Group, Dalli Group, Rowghat in Chhattisgarh.
The BSP, which now produces 4.6 MnT pa of hot metal, is getting raw material from the Dalli Rajhara mines. The iron ore reserve in the mines is reportedly fast depleting that has propelled the management to eye small mines.
The state-owned steel maker had been allotted deposit-F in the Rowghat that had been endowed with high grade of iron ore. The SAIL’s reserve is spread over 2028.79 hectares between Kanker and Narayanpur districts. The deposit has an estimated iron-ore reserve of 511 MnT.
Despite the insurgency, the work on Rowghat project is going on at a fast pace. But still, it would take a couple of years before SAIL-BSP start mining. The Rowghat mine had been crucial for the SAIL in general and BSP in particular that plans to enhance capacity to 7.5 MnT pa.
As per reports, the company plans to develop Dulki mine near Dalli-Rajhara, which contains high grade iron ore. Since reserves are limited, they would hardly last for an year. Similarly, the Mahamaya mine in the same vicinity is also in the list. These mines will help the steel maker to meet the iron ore demand.
~ Sourced
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