[]Ferro-Alloys.com]  MOIL scouts for new manganese mines in India, overseas

Ferro Alloys industry faces challenges of raw material shortage, high cost, cutting carbon emissions

With huge demand and shortage supply of manganese to the steel industry, MOIL plans to increase domestic production and explore global opportunities for securing ores to meet demand.

Rashmi Singh, Director (Commercial), MOIL said the company has been producing about 2.5 million tonnes (mt) of manganese against 1.9 mt logged last year.

Of the overall output this year, she said about 2 mt will come from mining and the remaining 0.5 mt will be produced through the beneficiation route from huge dumps of low-grade ores, which have remained unutilised for a long time, she told businessline on the sidelines of the 6th International Ferro Alloys Conference 2026 on Thursday in Goa.

MOIL targets 3.5 mt of production by 2030-31 to reduce the widening gap between demand and supply, she said at the event organised by the Indian Ferro Alloy Producers’ Association.

“We have already signed a JV with the Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation. We are trying to acquire some mines within the country and also exploring abroad actively,” she added.

It has also signed a similar JV with Madhya Pradesh government to explore opportunities in that State.

The company has been looking at Ghana, Mozambique and Zambia. Along with manganese, the company is also looking at opportunities in critical minerals including nickel and is seeking the Indian government’s help on the negotiation front, she said.

“We are still at the discussion stage and finalise the investment at the due diligence stage. Overall, our production is increasing and manpower comes down to align with the government set targets,” she added.

Manganese prices have also bottomed out and should rebound in the December quarter,” said Singh.

Manish Sarda, Chairman, the Indian Ferro Alloy Producers’ Association said India is the world’s largest exporter of manganese alloys and the second-largest producer of manganese alloys, after China.

ore availability

At the same time, he said India is the second-largest importer of manganese ore, because domestic ore availability has not kept pace with the expansion of alloy-making capacity, he said.

Expressing concern over the complete shutdown of manganese ore mining in Goa, Sarda said the loss of the State’s mid- to low-grade deposits is disrupting crucial raw material blending for India’s ferroalloy producers.

Sarda said the halt in mining operations had not only affected raw material security but also led to the closure of Goa’s two local manganese alloy production units.

“Securing indigenous sources of critical raw materials must be a priority for Indian ferro-alloy producers to become globally competitive and support the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” Sarda said.

He called for faster exploration and development of domestic manganese, chrome and other critical minerals, saying several manganese ore mines auctioned at high premiums remained non-operational because their economics were often unviable.

“Auction frameworks should therefore encourage actual mine development and production, not simply the highest bid. A producing mine creates value for the industry and the economy; an unviable mine does not,” he said.

The reporter was in Goa on the invitation of Indian Ferro Alloy Producers’ Association

• [Editor:tianyawei]