Mining boost: 18 ore dumps to be auctioned, 15 in S Goa

Panaji: For the first time in Goa’s mining sector, govt on Wednesday put up for auction 18 low-grade iron ore dumps with a total quantity of around 30 million tonnes. The ore put up for auction is graded between 45 and 51.
“Govt can export up to 25 million tonnes from dump handling,” director of mines, Narayan Gad told TOI. "Out of 18 dumps, 15 are in South Goa.” Gad said that to spur mining activities in the South, more dumps have been identified and put up for auction. The maximum number of blocks auctioned so far were in North Goa.
Last month, the state govt revised the e-auction policy for dumps to auction unclaimed low-grade ore dumps lying in private properties, for which conversion charges were not paid by the landowners.
The directorate has empanelled four agencies to conduct the dump profile study, including the quantity and quality assessment, on a pilot basis of the low-grade ore. The companies entrusted with the task are Sai Universal Mining Services, Global Environmental and Mining Services, Minerals Lab Services Pvt Ltd and Sinha Mining Consultancy.
The Supreme Court allowed govt to carry out dump mining activity in Goa in accordance with an expert committee’s report. Accordingly, the policy for regulating iron ore dump handling in Goa was notified on September 14, 2023.
The Dump Handling Policy, 2023, paved the way to deal with the 700 million tonnes of low-grade iron ore lying inside and outside mining leases across Goa and to export 25 million tonnes per annum. A senior officer said the dump handling policy has been challenged in the court.
The state govt granted permission to Chowgule and Company Pvt Ltd to handle 1.3 million tonnes of low-grade iron ore lying outside the mining leases at Shirgao. Chowgule is the first company to get approval to handle dumps outside lease areas.