Panaji: The Goa government has successfully completed the first phase of auction of mining blocks in the state on Wednesday with four companies winning bids for the extraction of ore from different mineral rich stretches of the coastal state.
Goa’s Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) had conducted the e-auctioning process that will pave way for the resumption of Iron Ore mining industry in the state. The industry had come to a standstill since 2012 after Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases.
“The first phase of auctioning of the mining blocks has been completed. All the four blocks are assigned to the successful bidders,” a senior DMG official told said on Thursday.
He said that Vedanta Limited had won the bid for Bicholim-Mulgao mining block (North Goa) that has got over 84 million tons of iron ore reserves. “Salgaocar Shipping Company Pvt Ltd won bid for Shirigao-Mayem mineral Block in North Goa. The mine has over 24 million tonnes ore reserve,” he said.
Goa’s Rajaram Bandekar Pvt Ltd successfully bidded for Monte-de-Sirigao mining block (North Goa) that has 10 million tons of ore available for extraction. The fourth Block comprising of Kalay Mines (South Goa) was won by Sociedade De Fomento Industries Private Limited. The mine has also got 16.731 million tonnes of iron ore in the unexplored lease area of 75 hactares, he said.
The official said that the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG), through Metal Scrap Trading Corporation (MSTC) had on September 30, 2022 invited tender to e-auction four mining blocks- Mulgao, Sirigao-Mayem and Monte-de-Sirigao, all in Bicholim taluka and Kalay mine in Sanguem taluka.
