Steel production would be significantly affected if the auction of the mines which would complete 50 years of operations by March, 2020 is materially delayed. Atleast thats what India Countersunk wood screw Manufacturers Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) feels. Ind-Ra estimates that nearly 60 million tonne of the actual production of iron ore from these mines could be disrupted.. Consequently, the credit profile of merchant miners and thus non-integrated steel players could come under stress.

 Majority of these 59 mines are iron ore mines situated in Orissa and Karnataka with around 85 million tonne of approved annual capacity.e.

Going by Ind-Ras assessment, the license of about 288 merchant mines will expire by March, 2020, out of which 59 mines are under operations. Considering that the auction process on an average takes three to six months to complete, a delay in initiating them until the latter half of 2019 due to the Lok Sabha elections in the country could affect the timely auction of mining lease. Rs 2.Kolkata: Initiation of the auction process for more than 50 years old mines will have to be one of the top priorities of the new Narendra Modi-led government, among others.Interestingly, of the last major auctions of about 88 iron ore deposits, only a handful has started to operate.85 trillion.

Hide Comments | Add Comment