Bhubaneswar: The state government Friday issued a Notice Inviting Tenders (NITs) for auction of 10 more mineral blocks in accordance with the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015.
The Directorate of Mines has issued to NIT for electronic auction of 7 blocks of iron ore and 3 blocks of iron ore and manganese (associate minerals that co-occur) for the purposes of granting mining lease.
The seven iron ore blocks put for auction are Nuagaon, Thakurani, Jilling – Langalota, Jaribahal, Roida-II, Jururi and Ganua. The Siljora–Kalimati, Narayanposhi and Mahulsukha iron & manganese blocks have also been put for auction.
Last date for purchase of tender document after payment of a tender fee of Rs 5 lakh on the website of e-auction platform provider is November 15, 2019 and the last date for submission of the bid is November 18, 2019.
Nuagaon iron ore mine is the largest mine put on auction. Spread over 767 hactres, the Nuagaon mine block is equal to all the other iron ore deposits in the state put together. It’s so big that only a handful of mining firms are expected to meet the net worth eligibility to bid for it. The big mining players are eyeing to grab the block because it will alone enable the concerned firm to rule the mining industry in the state.
Five of the leases have been reserved for manufacturers of steel and steel intermediaries. The reserved blocks are Thakurani iron ore block, Jaribahal iron ore block, Roida II iron ore block, Narayanposhi iron ore & manganese block and Ganua iron ore block. The state has already decided to reserve Tata Steel’s Sukinda chromite mine for state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC).
Interested and eligible bidders can register themselves on the above website. On successful registration, eligible bidders will obtain login ID and password necessary for participation in the e-auction process.
PNN