Chhattisgarh stood third in the country with the maximum number of sponge iron plants existing in the State during the last financial year.
The first State with maximum number of sponge iron plants is Odisha with 122 units followed by Jharkhand at 64 and Chhattisgarh having 57 units during the last financial year.
Notably, the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) provides iron ore to some of the sponge iron units in the country.
NMDC recorded iron ore production (provisional ) of 5.91 million tonnes (MT) from its mines in Chhattisgarh as on August 31, 2015.
The company informed this to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in its filing while offering details on production and sales of iron ore (provisional) upto the month of August this year from its mines in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.
NMDC from its mines in Karnataka recorded iron ore production of 4.61 million tonnes during the aforesaid period. The total iron ore production from the company's mines in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka during the aforesaid period stood at 10.52 million tonnes, it informed the BSE.
Notably, NMDC is all set to meet its exports commitments with the Centre recently approving exports under the long Term Agreements (lTAs) to Japan and South Korea through Metals & Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) for supplying 16.5 million tonnes(MT) of high grade iron ore, officials stated.
The quantities covered under the agreement will be in the range of 3.8 million tonnes to 5.5 million tonnes per year and will be supplied primarily from the mines of NMDC ltd.
The company is now all set to provide high grade Indian iron ore from its Chhattisgarh mines to Japanese and South Korean Steel Mills.
Iron-ore exports to Japan and South Korea under lTA are largely made in the country from NMDC ltd’s mines in Bailadila, Chhattisgarh.
The export of iron-ore is presently under Open General license (OGl). High-grade iron-ore (+64% Fe) is canalized through MMTC ltd. Exports are determined by availability and international market situations.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier given its approval to renew long Term Agreement with Japanese and South Korean Steel Mills for supply of high grade Indian iron ore, during the three year period from April 2015 to March 2018, officials stated.
The Directorate of Geology & Mining in Chhattisgarh is also in the process of carrying out iron ore exploration in the notified areas of Kanker and Narayanpur districts of Bastar division.
The exploration is being carried out in Rowghat and 10 other locations, officials stated.
Notably, Chhattisgarh had only three ‘Non Working’ iron ore mines out of 15 as on April 15, 2015 in the State.
The State-wise details of Working and Non-working mines of iron ore as on April 15, 2015 are as follows- Chhattisgarh- Working (15), Non Working (3) Andhra Pradesh Working (42), Non Working (20), Goa Non Working ( 330), Jharkhand Working (11), Non Working (46), Karnataka Working (26), Non Working (69), Madhya Pradesh Working (33), Non Working ( 3) , Maharashtra Working (14), Non Working (12),Odisha Working (37), Non Working (106), Rajasthan Working( 15) Non Working (2), Telangana Working (4), Non Working (5).
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Government had targetted to carry out survey and mapping for 1,000 square kms of State’s area during 2015-16 for geological exploration during the 12th five year plan ( 2012-17).
The minerals to be explored as bauxite, limestone, iron ore, coal, dolomite, manganese and granite, officials stated.
The Directorate of Geology & Mining is the State agency engaged in exploration of mineral resources as well as minerals development and regulation work in Chhattisgarh.
The Directorate has the facility of remote sensing, cartography,survey, drilling and petrological techniques for geological investigations supported by the chemical laboratory (conventional and instrumental techniques of analyses) to assess the mineral resources. The mineral exploration works are being carried out through three Regional Offices, Raipur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur, officials stated.
The grant of mineral concession, collection of revenue
and regulation of mineral concessions are being carried out through District Offices under the control of Collector, district concerned .
The Directorate also provides technical and legal advice, related with grant and regulation of mineral concession to the State Government.
Explorations had been promised for Bauxite in Dandkesra and Murdadand area of Surguja and Darai and Bhuski-Pakri/Pandripani area of Kabirdham districts (two areas) , Iron ore in notified areas of Kanker and Narayanpur districts and Pavaras and Kachhora area of Bastar district.
Moreover, explorations are being proposed for limestone in Raipur, Rajnandgaon,Janjgir-Champa and Dantewada districts, Manganese in Raipur district, Dolomite in Janjgir-Champa district, Granite in Kanker, Bastar and Narayanpur districts, Coal in Saidu area and West of Mainpat Plateau of Surguja district.
Chhattisgarh is also set to earn estimated revenue of `51,596 crore from its five mines auctioned among 29 in the country under the provisions of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 during the mining lease period.