14 sponge iron plants have iron ore mines

Out of the total 105 sponge iron plants operating in the state, 14 units have iron ore mines of their own. Out of the remaining 94 units, Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC), the state owned mining company, is supplying iron ore to 29 units.

Of the total sponge units, 102 were functioning in the state while three units have been closed. However, three more plants are proposed to come up in the state, according to the state steel and mines minister, Pradeep Kumar Amat.

The units having their own iron ore mines include Surendra Mining and Industries (P) Ltd, Rungta Mines Ltd (located at Kalta in Sundergarh), Rungta mines Ltd (sponge iron unit at Barbil), Scaw Industries Ltd, Sri Jagannath Metallicks Ltd, OMDC sponge iron plant Ltd, Hima Ispat(p) Ltd, Mayur Electro Ceramics (P) Limited.

Besides, T P Sao and Sons (formerly Bajrang Ispat (p) Limited located at Kuanarmunda), T P Sao and Sons (formerly Mangalam Ispat) located at Kuanarmunda, Beekay Steel and Power (P) Limited, Crackers India Alloys Limited, Grewal associates and Tata Sponge Iron Limited have their own mines.

Amat said, the units which are supplied iron ore by OMC include Nilachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL), Visa Steel, Kalinga Sponge Iron Ltd., Nixon Steel and Power, Reliable Sponge Pvt Ltd, Rexon Strips Ltd, Dinabndhu Steel and Power Ltd, Sree Metaliks Ltd.