Fimi's push to extend merchant mines' tenure rankles steel, pellet makers

End-user industries say 200 mn tonnes iron ore capacity still operative after lease expiry

The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (Fimi)'s discussions with the Union government to extend the lease validity of merchant mines has vexed the steel industry and other end users.

The validity of non-captive or merchant mines is expiring by March 31, 2020. Flagging concerns over a possible crunch in raw material supplies, Fimi had recently appealed to the planning think-tank Niti Aayog to extend the period of their operations till 2030, co-terminus with the captive mines.

In a rejoinder to Fimi's submission, the Pellet Manufacturers' Association of India (PMAI) has clarified to Niti Aayog that the crisis painted by the mining body