Panaji: Goa’s iron ore industry has reached a significant milestone as companies begin handling low-grade ore dumps for the first time in the state’s history. The development comes in the wake of state-led auctions that placed 25 dumps under new management and granted four dumps to former mining lessees. The total quantity of dumps is around 50 million tonnes.Full-fledged mining is expected to resume in Goa from Oct and is likely to generate around Rs 1,000 crore in revenue.Mining in Goa has been halted since 2018 following a Supreme Court decision on mining leases. As part of efforts to restart mining-related activity, state govt auctioned 20 iron ore dumps. In the latest phase, 20 of the 24 dumps offered received bids.Chowgule and Company Pvt Ltd commenced its operation at the Pale iron ore dump, the first dump to be operationalised under Goa Policy for Regulating Iron Ore Dump Handling, 2023.Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that this marks the implementation of a transparent and regulated framework to responsibly utilise mineral resources lying in dumps from earlier mining operations.Sawant said that the initiative will generate economic activity, create employment, support local businesses and contribute revenue to the state, while ensuring strict compliance with environmental and statutory safeguards.The CM said that his govt remains committed to the responsible utilisation of Goa’s mineral resources, balancing economic opportunities with the protection of our environment and the interests of our people.A senior govt officer said that handling and processing of iron ore dumps is a highly specialised and capital-intensive activity and companies are required to undertake substantial investment towards deployment of heavy earthmoving machinery, beneficiation and screening facilities, transportation infrastructure, environmental compliance measures, statutory clearances, royalty and other govt dues.Supreme Court allowed Goa govt to carry out dump mining activity in the state in accordance with an expert committee’s report.Accordingly, the policy for regulating iron ore dump handling was notified on Sept 14, 2023. The Dump Handling Policy, 2023, paved the way to deal with the 700 million tonnes of low-grade iron ore lying inside and outside mining leases across Goa and to export 25 million tonnes per annum. Up to 25 million tonnes of ore from dump handling can be exported.
