Odisha CM and Union Minister jointly inaugurated the production of two iron ore mines of OMC

Bhubaneswar, 18/2 (AO Bureau): Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Shri Prahlad Yoshi today jointly inaugurated the production of two quarries belonging to the Odisha Mining Corporation and the Jilling- Langlota iron ore mine.

Inaugurating the event, Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik said that the production of these two mines would help stabilize the iron ore market and meet the supply-demand of the industry.

The Chief Minister said that Odisha has always taken many steps in the mining sector.

In this regard, 1 MS System has been launched to monitor the transport of iron ore for transparency and the auction process of many large mines has been successfully completed in the last few years.

Noting that Odisha has witnessed significant growth in the mining and metals industry over the past two decades, the Chief Minister said that Odisha has the potential to be an important center of the world in the steel, aluminum, and other metals industries.

Industry-friendly measures in the state have encouraged investment. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the two states and the Center to work together to realize the huge potential of the state in the mining and metals industries.

The Chief Minister opined that the state government has always supported the reforms in the mining sector and that this would benefit both the Center and the states.

Chief Minister Shri Patnaik thanked Union Minister Shri Yoshi for allocating the two mines to the WTO and giving various approvals within a short time.

The Chief Minister also thanked the OMC for taking urgent steps to make the two mines operational.

Inaugurating the occasion, Union Minister Prahlad Yoshi said that Orissa was rich in mineral resources. Therefore, if the Center and the states work together, the economies of both the states and the country will prosper.

The state government will get Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 crore in revenue annually from these two new mines and create employment opportunities, Mr. Yoshi said.

In addition, Mr. Yoshi said it would help alleviate the shortcomings in the iron ore market.

Union Minister Prahlad Yoshi said that the cooperation between the Center and the state in infrastructure development would usher in a new era of prosperity in the country’s economy.

Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Public Works Prafulla Mallick, who was present at the inauguration ceremony, thanked the Chief Minister and the Union Minister for their co-operation with the Center and the state for the production of the Gwali and Jiling Langlota mines.

The function was graced by Rajya Sabha MP Shri Ashwini Vaishnav, Chief Secretary Shri Suresh Mohapatra, Development Commissioner Shri P.K. Mr. Ashok Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary, Finance, was present.

Chief Minister’s Secretary (5T) Shri V.K. Pandian coordinated the program.

Mr. Surendra Kumar, Chairman, Mining Corporation, delivered the welcome address and Mr. Balwant Singh, Managing Director, Mining Corporation, thanked the participants.

The two mines in the Keonjhar district are expected to produce 12 billion tonnes of iron ore annually.

Jilling Langlota has 6.12 MT of iron ore, of which 4.24 million tonnes per annum have been approved for environmental production.

Similarly, environmental permits have been approved for the extraction of 5.6 million tonnes of iron ore annually from the 17.4 MT iron ore mine. The Odisha Mining Corporation is one of the fastest-growing mining companies in the country.

With the acquisition of these two new mines, OMC’s annual production is expected to reach 20 billion tonnes.