India to auction 7 mines by August including 1 bauxite mine in Koraput, Odisha

Odisha government is in the process of putting at least seven mines for auction by August, state Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick said today. The seven mines include iron ore, manganese and a bauxite mine in Koraput district.

"We are in the process of auctioning seven more mines by July-August this year. Among the mines, a bauxite mine would be auctioned in Koraput district," the minister said.

Mallick's announcement of putting one bauxite mine in the auction has enhanced the hopes of Vedanta, which has been struggling to arrange raw material for its 1 mtpa refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district. The London-based aluminium major is likely to participate in the bidding process.

Vedanta's alumina (refined from bauxite, the prime ore of aluminium) refinery and aluminium smelter plants are running at less than 50 per cent capacity due to lack of bauxite though the refinery plant is located close to several mines.

Mallick said he would participate in the all India mining ministers' meeting to be held at Jaipur on May 27.

"We would raise several issues, including the process for granting environment and forest clearances to mines in the state at the meeting," he said.

The Indian mines ministers will discuss the auction process, setting up of District Mineral Foundation (DMF), minor mineral rules and curbing illegal mining and enhanced penal provisions, he said.

Mallick said the ministers will also discuss on the status of collection of funds in the DMF and its utilisation.