PANAJI
After successfully e-auctioning nine mineral blocks since 2022, the Goa Government on Monday invited bids for three more iron ore blocks, located in North and South Goa.
These mineral blocks include Onda (Block X) in North and Curpem-Sulcorna (Block XI) and Codli iron ore block (Block XII) in South. The last date for submission of bids is October 4. Since December 2022, till date, State has e-auctioned nine mineral blocks of which only one- owned by Vedanta Limited in Bicholim has commenced operations.
As per the tender document, the Codli mineral block at Dharbandora, earlier owned by M/s Vedanta Limited and M/s Sociedade Timblo Irmaos Limited, is the largest mineral block with a total area of 377.08 hectares. A total of 33.98 ha of area is mineralised while 343.10 ha is a non-mineralised. The mine has got around 48.49 million metric tons of ore reserve and another 2.68 million metric tons of dump.
The Onda Mineral block in Sattari, belonging to erstwhile leaseholder M/s Chowgule And Company Pvt Ltd is spread across a total area of 61.73 ha of which the mineralised area is around 13.39 ha while 48.32 ha is a non-mineralised area. The block has around 5.62 million metric tons of ore including fines and lumps. The block has also got an estimated 45,00,00 metric tons of ore in the form of dumps.
The Curpem-Sulcorna mineral block in Sanguem-Quepem taluka is spread at an area of 87.64 ha area of which the mineralised area is 14.00 ha while 73.63 ha is non-mineralised. The mine, having an estimated 9.79 million metric tons of iron ore reserve, was earlier owned by M/s Sesa Resources Limited. The block also has 1,56,728 metric tons of ore in form of dumps.
