OMC iron ore output may touch 22 mnt by 2017-18

Iron ore output by state run miner Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) is projected to touch 22.05 million tonne (mnt) by 2017-18, more than five fold of its current production of four mnt achieved by the end of 2014-15.

The ramp up in production is set to happen in phases- 9.86 mnt in 2015-16, 14.85 mnt in 2016-17 and finally reaching 22.05 mnt by the end of 2017-18. The state task force on steel & mines has taken stock of the progress made in respect of some key iron ore mines of OMC — Daitari, Gandhamardhan and Kurmitar.

The managing director of OMC has assured to take urgent steps to secure approval of forest diversion, mining plan and other statutory clearances through a dedicated team. Girsh S N, managing director, OMC could not be reached for comments.

To boost production of iron ore from the Daitari mines by 2.5 mnt, OMC has decided to go for a new 1000 TPH (tonne per hour) ore handling plant along with 3200 TPH mechanised wagon loading system including related railway infrastructure. The project proposal has been approved by the state government. The Daitari mines had a target to produce 1.35 mnt iron ore in 2014-15. L&T has been engaged as the EPC (engineering, procurement & construction) contractor while Dastur & Company is the technical consultant for the project. Construction work on the project will commence after obtaining approval of forest diversion plan from the Union ministry of environment & forests (MoEF).

OMC has also decided to ramp up production from Gandhamardan mines to 9.12 mnt. Mecon Ltd has been roped in as the technical consultant for this project. An agreement has already been signed with Mecon for this purpose.