The State Government would declare the names of the qualified bidders for the Ghorhaburhani-Sagasahi iron ore block in Sundargarh district’s Koida mining sector onFebruary 25.
Mines Director Deepak Mohanty said this after the first technical committee meeting held at the State Secretariat here on Monday.
“Documents of all seven companies who have bid for the mines will be examined. Of them, we will announce names of the technically qualified bidders on February 25,” Mohanty said.
When asked about when next auction to begin, he said current mines are being upgraded from G3 to G2 level. It is expected that next auction dates would be announced by August or September, he said.
According to sources, the JSW Steel ltd, the Jindal Steel and Power ltd, the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam ltd, the Essar Steel, the Bhushan Steel ltd, the Bhushan Power and Steel ltd and the Tata Steel have participated in the bidding process.
While financial bids were invited in digital format only, technical bids are invited both in digital and physical format from eligible bidders.
Sources said iron ore block would be offered in the form of prospecting licence (Pl)-cum-mining licence (Ml).