Bhubaneswar, Feb 23 (IANS) The Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), the mining PSU of Odisha government, said on Tuesday that it plans to increase its iron ore and chrome ore production to 10 million tonne (mt) in 2016-17.
"We have set a target to scale up its iron ore and chrome ore production to 10 million tonne (mt) in 2016-17," said OMC managing director Girish S.N.
OMC is mandated to provide long-term ore linkages to industries facing raw material shortage in the state.
At a meeting here chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi to discuss the issues of OMC and increase its production, Girish said it would achieve the target of 6.5 mt ore production by the end of this financial year.
In 2013-14, the mining PSU had explored 2.4 mt and 3.9 mt in 2014-15.
Sources said the state PSU has targeted to boost the annual ore production to 20 tonne by 2018-19.
Officials said the legal hurdles including pending forest and environment clearances for mines would be expedited to increase the production while the mines would be explored through mechanised way to meet the target.
Presently, OMC is excavating ores from four iron ore mines and two chrome ore mines out of 31 mines in possession.
OMC sources said four iron ore mines, Daitari, Gandhamardhan, Kurmitar and Barpada Kasia and two chromite mines, including South Kaliapani and Sukrangi, are in the operational stage.
