Bhubaneswar: Shri Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, the Minister of Steel and Mines, confirmed that three corporate entities with existing long-term linkage agreements with OMC have also been granted mining leases through e-auctions since 2020.
The companies identified are: Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India Limited, which has been granted the Thakurani Iron Ore Block and Goraburani-Sagasahi Mines; Jindal Steel and Power, which received the Kasia Iron and Dolomite Mines and the Roida-l Iron Ore and Manganese Block; and Agrasen Sponge (P) Limited, which was allotted the Katasahi Manganese Mines.
Replying to a question raised by Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, MLA in Odisha Legislative Assembly, Minister Shri Jena said that, the government is now enforcing the Mine Development and Production Agreement (MDPA), a key provision under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015.
This agreement is designed to ensure that lessees effectively utilize their auctioned mineral blocks. According to the Minister, penalties will be imposed for any shortfall in the quantity of production as outlined in the MDPA, said he.
Minister Shri Jena also provided an overview of OMC’s production targets for the coming years, indicating a focus on increasing output from public sector undertakings.
The Odisha Mining Corporation plans to significantly ramp up production, with iron ore output projected to reach 67.72 million tonnes by the 2028-29 fiscal year, a notable increase from the 35.71 million tonnes produced in 2024-25.