Mines' e-auction: Qualified bidders’ names on Feb 25

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday said it will announce the names of qualified bidders for the Ghorhaburhani-Sagasahi iron ore block, located in Koida mining sector in Sundargarh district, on February 25.

Mines director Deepak Mohanty informed this after the first meeting of the technical committee at the secretariat here today.

“The first meeting of the technical committee was held today. It will examine the documents of all seven companies who have bid for the mines. Of the seven companies, we will announce names of the technically qualified bidders on February 25,” Mohanty stated.

Asked about the announcement of next auction dates, he said, “Right now, it is difficult to tell about the announcement of the next auction as we are upgrading the mines from G3 to G2 level. We hope we will be able to announce the dates by August or September, if the Geological report is ready.”

Sources in the steel and mines department said JSW Steel Ltd, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Essar Steel, Bhushan Steel Limited, Bhushan Power and Steel Limited, and Tata Steel participated in the bidding process.

While financial bids were invited in digital format only, technical bids were invited both in digital and physical format from eligible bidders, added the sources.

Sources said that the State government would issue a letter of intent to the successful bidders by March 28. The iron ore block will be offered in the form of a composite licence - prospecting licence (PL) cum mining licence (ML).