Bhubaneswar:
The Tata Steel Chrome mines located in Sukinda of Jajpur district, which was closed down in January following expiry of lease period, has started operation under the temporary work permit (TWP) provision.
According to sources the company has secured all the five clearances like mining plan, Environmental and Forest clearance, Odisha Pollution Control Board (OPCB) clearance etc to start mining operation from the Sukinda mines under the temporary work permit provision which is generally granted for a period of one year (and can be extended further after completion of one year). Subsequently the company has started producing chrome from 15th of last month. However, the mineral despatch is yet to start as the company is waiting for the consent of the Jajpur mining officer.
This development has its own significant as it is expected that Chrome supply will be increased in the market and eventually prices will come down.
Tata Steel had halted production at its chromite mine in Sukinda following the expiry of its mining lease on 12 January. Tata Steel’s chromite mine covers 406 hectares, including 106 acres of forest land, and had been leased to the company for 20 years. The mine has the capacity to produce 2.4 million tonnes (mt) of chrome ore, 0.6mt of chrome concentrate and 0.5mt of pyroxenite ore per annum, according to a report on the website of the ministry of environment and forests. The company produced 9.5 lakh tonnes of Chromite in the last financial year.
-Reported by Tapan Moharana
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