March 2027 deadline set for fifth mining auction

Panaji: Following the fourth e-auction of mineral blocks, the directorate of mines and geology (DMG) has set a timeline for the fifth round. Identification of new blocks will begin in June and be completed by Sept, with the auction scheduled by March 2027.

Director of mines and geology Narayan Gad said assistance will be sought from the geological survey of India to prepare geological reports, and auctions will be conducted through the MSTC portal. “The proposed timelines are tentative in nature and are subject to change,” he said.

The state has auctioned 16 mineral blocks in four rounds, of which around six have begun operations. It is also working on a mechanism to cap production from auctioned blocks, in line with the Supreme Court’s limit of 20 million tonnes of exports.

In another round, four of six blocks were successfully auctioned, with Anand Minerals and Venkateshwara Rao emerging as successful bidders for two blocks each.

After a weak initial response, DMG has put up 24 low-grade iron ore dumps for auction across Sanguem, Dharbandora, Bicholim and Sattari, including one in Sirsaim, Bardez. Most dumps are in South Goa, ranging from 1 lakh to 26 lakh tonnes, with the largest in Sonus, Sattari, at 10 million tonnes.

Mining in Goa was halted in Sept 2012 after the Shah Commission report was tabled in parliament. Operations resumed in 2015 but stopped again in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed the second renewal of 88 leases.

The sector restarted on April 4, 2024, after a six-year gap, with Vedanta Sesa Goa beginning extraction at the Bicholim Block I.
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