The government has allowed state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL) to sell 25 per cent of its iron ore produced from captive mines and dispose old stock of 70 million tonnes (mt) of low-grade iron ore mines and ores lying at mine heads across the country.
The ministry of steel has stated that more than 162 mt of low-grade iron ore are available at mine heads in India, as the regulations do not permit SAIL to sell these materials to domestic end-use companies.
The move by the ministry through two separate notifications on September 16 is seen as an effort to reduce