H D Kumaraswamy gives nod to KIOCL to start Devadari mine operation

The KIOCL, a central public sector enterprise under the Steel Ministry and an iron-ore exporting unit, had planned to start mining operations at the Devadari Iron Ore mine in Sandur taluk of Ballari district. The company has plans to produce around 3 lakh tonnes per annum in 2024-25.

The newly appointed Union Steel and Heavy Industries Minister, H D Kumaraswamy, has made a significant move by approving Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL) to operationalize the Devadari Iron Ore Mine. This decision marks the first official file signed by Kumaraswamy in his new role.

KIOCL, a central public sector enterprise under the Steel Ministry and an iron-ore exporting unit, aims to commence mining operations at the Devadari Iron Ore mine located in Sandur taluk of Ballari district. The company plans to produce approximately 3 lakh tonnes of iron ore per annum starting from the fiscal year 2024-25. The approval follows the company securing all necessary statutory clearances from various authorities, including the Indian Bureau of Mines, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

A mining lease agreement has been executed with the Mines and Geology Department of the Karnataka government, granting KIOCL the rights to extract iron and manganese ore over an area of 388 hectares for a period of 50 years. The operationalization of the Devadari Iron Ore Mine is crucial for KIOCL, especially after the closure of its previous mining operations in Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru district, in 2006. Since then, the company has relied on ore sourced from Chhattisgarh for its plant in Mangaluru. The new mining operations in Devadari are expected to provide a much-needed boost to the company’s production capabilities and ensure a steady supply of raw materials.