Captive miners seek permits to sell inferior grade ore in bid to cut wastes

Existing rules forbid captive miners from selling rejects, sub-grade or low-grade ores that are not usable for downstream processes

Captive mine lessees have sought approval to sell inferior grades of minerals, saying it will reduce waste at mines.

Their demand stems from the fact that baser grade ore could not be used in the mother plants or the downstream units. Such lower grade ore and rejects can be disposed off to other industries where they find applications.

“Captive miners are restricted to dispose or sell low grade minerals not usable for end use plant associated with the mines, thereby, locking mineralised land and preventing zero waste mining. Currently, according to the Mineral Transfer Rules, captive mining implies 100 per