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Print [Ferro-alloys.com] ( Reuters) Karnataka expects to reopen 19 iron ore mines this fiscal year, which were shut by a court in 2011, increasing supplies to local steel mills by 30 million mt, the head of its mines department said.
India used to produce 200 million mt of iron ore a year and sell about half of that overseas before bans on production aimed at curbing illegal mining in Karnataka and top producer Goa slowed production and exports to a trickle.
Nine mines have already restarted in Karnataka, which used to produce about 50 million mt before the Supreme Court imposed a ban on mining there nearly two years ago. “(Another) eight to nine mines can be opened immediately this month, provided the honourable Supreme Court allows that. A decision is expected this month,” said H R Srinivasa, Director, Karnataka Department of Mines and Geology.
Last September, the Supreme Court allowed the reopening of 18 mines of the state’s 170 total as long as operators fulfilled reclamation and rehabilitation criteria. The court is expected to add another 10 mines in the course of this year.
“Many companies are already working on reclamation and rehabilitation,” Srinivasa said, referring to court-mandated steps such as building fort-like walls around the mines and using rain water for sanitation.
The court may eventually allow a total of 120 mines in the state to restart and shut the remaining 50 mines due to illegalities, according to the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (Fimi), which is also advising the top c
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