Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel company is among the ten firms who have placed 28 bids for the four iron ore mining blocks that are put up for e-auction.
The technical evaluation of the bids is currently underway and names of successful bidder, who will be participating in the auction process will be knows by December 14.
These mines have cumulative estimated reserve of about 135 million tonnes of low-grade iron ore resource.
These mines were previously operated by mining firms such as M/s Narvekar, M/s Rajaram Bandekar, M/s Chowgule & Co Pvt Ltd and Sesa Mining Corporation. Almost all the iron ore extracted from Goa mines were exported to China.
The DMG has clarified that the successful bidder will be entitled to dispose of only that part of the ore, which is already lying at the site, where the government does not claim its right.
In a corrigendum issued to the tender document, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has said that it is State government’s right to dispose of the already extracted ore either by way of sale, auction or through any other means.
“The State Government reserves the right, but not the obligation, to appropriate and dispose of, whether by way of sale, auction or such other means as the State Government may, in its sole discretion, determine, all or any part of the ore, the ore already extracted and lying on the surface of the Mineral Block/dumps presently located within the Mineral Block, provided that such right shall be exercised by the State Government no later than 12 (twelve) months from the date of issuance of this Letter of Intent,” the corrigendum stated.
The names of successful bidders would be declared between December 13 and 21. Following which, the first instalment of the bid price will have to be paid to the government within 15 days after which the Letter of Intent will be issued.
In March 2018, mining operations in Goa was suspended after the Supreme Court cancelled the 88 iron ore mining leases in the State that were renewed by the government in 2014-2015 just before the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act mandated the auction of leases.
Goa used to expLort about 20-25 million tonnes of iron ore a year. In 2004, Goa’s mining sector became a free-for-all activity and exports jumped to a record 54 million tonnes.
The successful bidder will have to obtain all the requisite permissions including environment clearance and consent to operate.
