PANJIM
Goa’s once locally dominated iron ore mining sector is steadily shifting into the hands of major national steel producers, mining operators and infrastructure companies, with the latest round of mineral block auctions further reducing the share of traditional Goan mine owners.
The recently concluded auction of one mineral block -- Pissurlem Mineral Block XV -- was won by JSW Steel. This mineral block was part of the six blocks up for auction during the fourth phase in April, but the process was delayed owing to legal matter.
With this, of the total 17 mineral blocks auctioned by the State government so far, only six have gone to Goa-based mining firms, while the remaining 11 have been bagged by outside steel giants, mining companies and infrastructure players from across India.
The block auctions have been conducted in phases since 2022, with four blocks auctioned in 2022-23, five in 2023-24, three in 2024-25 and six in the latest phase.
In the first phase, Goa-based firms retained a significant presence. The Bicholim Mineral Block with estimated geological reserves of 85.465 million tonnes was won by Vedanta Ltd, while the Sirigao-Mayem block with 23.584 MT went to Salgaocar Shipping Company Pvt Ltd. The Monte de Sirigao block was secured by Rajaram Bandekar (Sirigao) Mines Pvt Ltd and the Kalay block by Fomento Resources Private Limited.
However, subsequent phases saw aggressive participation from national corporations. In Phase II, JSW Steel won both the Cudnem-Cormolem block and the massive Surla-Sonshi block containing estimated resources of over 65.7 million tonnes. Odisha-based Kai International Pvt Ltd secured the Thivim-Pirna block, while Fomento Resources Private Limited retained the Advalpale-Thivim block.
Phase III further strengthened the position of non-Goan firms. Agarvanshi Pvt Ltd won both the Onda and Curpem-Sulcorna mineral blocks, while JSW Steel bagged the Codli Mineral Block containing nearly 48.5 million tonnes of iron ore resources.
In the latest Phase IV auctions, Anandam Minerals Pvt Ltd secured Cudnem Mineral Block XIII and Pissurlem Mineral Block XVI, while Venkateswar Rao Gorantla won Cudnem Mineral Block XIV and Adwalpale-Moitem Block XVII.
The biggest block in the latest phase -- Pissurlem Mineral Block XV with estimated in-situ mineral reserves of 96.026 million tonnes and average iron content of 54.8 per cent Fe -- went to JSW Steel. The Cavorem-Maina block, containing 13.884 million tonnes of iron ore along with manganese deposits, was awarded to Dharti Dredging and Infrastructure Ltd.
Mining industry observers said the auction trend reflects the growing entry of vertically integrated steel and infrastructure companies seeking captive iron ore resources, gradually altering the traditional structure of Goa’s mining industry, which was historically controlled by local mining families and firms.
