Pellet makers want Odisha govt's nod to partake in iron ore auctions

Most of the pellet makers in the state are running their units without captive iron ore resource and hence, depend on merchant supplies of ore

Pellet manufacturers across Odisha have sought the state government's go-ahead to participate in auctions of iron ore blocks.

Most pellet makers in the state are running their units without captive iron ore resources and depend on merchant supplies. Odisha has a nameplate capacity of 29 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), or 34 per cent of the country's total pellet making capacity. In FY19, the total pellet output in Odisha was 20.76 million tonnes (mt), growing 13 per cent year-on-year. Essar Steel and Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) run the biggest pellet complexes in the state. 

Iron ore pellets are