Iron ore miners looking up to next govt to resume ops

Harried iron ore miners, who have lost over two years of business, are pinning hopes on the next government to clear the statutory roadblocks and encourage exports.
"We hope the next government will clear the roadblocks faced by the iron ore mining industry and promote investment into the sector, which can contribute to GDP," Goa Mineral Ore Exporters' Association secretary Glenn Kalavampara told PTI and stressed on sustainable mining.
When asked about the recent statement of the major Opposition BJP indicating its preference for domestic use of iron ore than exports, Kalavampara said low grade iron ore is not utilised by the domestic steel industry and should be exported.

"Low grade iron ore is not used by the domestic steel industry. So, its exports should continue as there is no demand for this grade in the country," he said, adding most of the output from Goa is of low grade ore only.
Notable, certain low grade ore is also mined in Karnataka and Odisha as well in small quantity.
The country, which had exported around 110 million tonne iron ore in 2008-09, has witnessed drastic fall in outward shipment due to investigation into alleged illegal mining in key producing states like Karnataka, Goa and Odisha.

While mines are slowly being reopened in Karnataka, it is yet to restart in Goa, which is a major exporter of low grade iron ore fines.

An official of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, the association representing iron ore miners, also echoed similar sentiment.
"Domestic demand for iorn ore fines is not there. So, it has to be exported," FIMI Secretary General RK Sharma Said, adding the association would engage with the next government on the export of low category iron ore from key producing states.
The country, which used to be a reliable supplier of iron ore to key consumer nation like China, has lost its place to countries like Brazil, Australia and South Africa in the last two years due to halting of mining in major producing states.