Mining

Uttarakhand's mining revenue doubles to Rs 650 crore in FY 2024-25

The state government has taken steps to make the mining sector transparent and robust using modern technology

Tamil Nadu vows to block Hindustan Zinc tungsten mining in green zone

Assembly resolution urges Centre to not grant any mining licence without the permission of state governments

Cancel tungsten mining in Madurai district, CM Stalin tells PM Modi

Staunchly opposing the Centre's award of tungsten mining rights in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel it and asserted that the state government will not allow mining there considering aspects such as a bio-diversity heritage site and people's opposition. A notified bio-diversity heritage site falls under one of the areas proposed for mining, and commercial mining in densely populated villages will definitely affect the people, who fear that their livelihood may be lost forever and hence, the state would never allow mining there, Stalin said, writing to Modi. Against the backdrop of protests by the people against proposed mining, Stalin pointed to the 'grim situation in Madurai district due to the Union government's award of tungsten mining rights,' and requested the immediate intervention of PM Modi to cancel it. The state had already raised its concerns on such auctioning of mining rights of critical and ...

Revenue implication of Rs 4,162 cr as Odisha's iron-ore grade declined: CAG

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which conducted an audit of six iron-ore mines in Odisha has observed that after the auction of the selected mines, there was an "abrupt and abnormal decline in the grade of iron-ore and its classification", as reported by new lessees. "The decline of grade of iron ore has resulted in a revenue implication of approximately Rs 4,162.77 crore for the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22 in the form of lesser royalty and premium (post auction)", the CAG said in its report No 6 of the year 2024, which was laid before the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday. Though more than 83 per cent production was reported in the grade of 62-65 per cent Fe (iron) in the pre-auction period, the same came down to approximately 16 per cent in the two years after auction (2020-2022), it said. Similarly, the auditor said, the share of grades 60 per cent Fe and below went up from approximately 11 per cent of total production to more than 60 per cent of total ...

Why taxing mining companies retrospectively is a retrogressive step

States would do well to exercise the discretion that the Supreme Court has given them to leaven the impact of a judgment that benefits them immensely

India to open its 1st lithium mines in Chhattisgarh after GSI confirmation

Lithium, one of the 23 proposed exploration projects, is considered crucial for producing lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, which are in increasing demand

Mining operators face setback as SC permits retrospective state levies

The Supreme Court specified that payment for tax demands, which can be retrospectively applied from April 2005, should be staggered in instalments over a 12-year period, beginning from April 1, 2026

Wayanad landslides: Bhupender Yadav says Kerala allowed illegal mining

The minister said that the Union government has already constituted a committee headed by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar to study the eco-sensitive zone

Govt tables Bill in Lok Sabha to delink petroleum operations from mining

Calls for delinking petroleum operations from mining, renewable projects at oilfields

International Seabed Authority to conduct polls amid deep-sea mining debate

A UN body that regulates deep international waters is preparing to elect its next leader, a crucial position as it faces pressure to either ban, approve or place a moratorium on seabed mining. The upcoming election comes as the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority ended a two-week session on Friday without reaching a consensus on a regulatory framework for deep-sea mining. The drawn-out debate raises concerns that the authority could receive an application later this year seeking the first deep sea mining exploitation license without having rules or regulations in place. The Metals Company, a Canadian-based mining company, is largely expected to be the first to apply for such a license. Mining exploration has been ongoing in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, which covers 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square kilometers) between Hawaii and Mexico. It is occurring at depths ranging from 13,000 to 19,000 feet (4,000 to 6,000 meters). However, no exploitation licens

Rajasthan expedites marking, e-auctioning of mines to curb illegal mining

Illegal mining can be curbed only by promoting legal mining

Vedanta Resources eyes various fundraise options for Zambia copper mine

Vedanta Resources owns an 80% stake in the mining firm

Volumes of domestic mining, construction equipment may drop in FY25: ICRA

Rating agency ICRA on Thursday said the volumes of domestic mining and the construction equipment (MCE) industry may drop in the current financial year on account of a slowdown in the new project orders amidst Lok Sabha elections and monsoon-related impact on construction activities. "ICRA expects FY2025 to see a 12-15 per cent year-on-year decline (which translates into volumes of 1.14-1.18 lakh units)," the rating agency said in a statement. This drop is following two consecutive years of strong growth of 26 per cent in FY'23 and 24 per cent in FY'24. "The reversal in this growth trend will be driven by a slowdown in the new project award activity in Q4 FY2024 and Q1 FY2025, as the Model Code of Conduct will remain in force during the Parliamentary Elections in April-May 2024 (till the announcement of results on June 4, 2024). "Additionally, the aggregate revenues for ICRA's sample set companies are expected to contract by 9-12 per cent and operating margins by 100-150 basis poin

Vedanta lines up $6 billion across businesses to drive revenue growth

Mining conglomerate Vedanta Ltd will invest USD 6 billion across businesses that span from aluminium and zinc to iron ore, steel and oil and gas as it looks to add at least USD 2.5 billion to annual EBITDA, its executives said in an investor meeting. It has a pipeline of more than 50 active projects and expansions to drive growth, which is expected to generate incremental revenue of over USD 6 billion and boost EBITDA from an expected USD 5 billion in the current fiscal ending March 31 to USD 6 billion in the next and up to USD 7.5 billion by FY27, they added. Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal, according to a presentation made at the investor meeting, said the company "will get to a different level in the next 25 years". His brother and vice chairman Naveen Agarwal gave details of the plans. "Projects (are) under execution to deliver USD 7.5+ billion yearly EBITDA," he said, adding USD 6 billion is being invested across business verticals that will potentially yield incremental revenue

JSW Group interested in acquiring critical mineral blocks: Chairman Jindal

Steel to Infrastructure JSW Group is interested in participating in auction of critical minerals, its Chairman Sajjan Jindal said on Wednesday. Jindal, who made the remarks at an event in Mumbai, said the move will help in backward integration of the group's plans for new energy vehicles. "We will certainly participate when the mining auction comes up," he said while replying to a question. The comments come a month after the JSW Group announced signing an agreement with the Odisha government to set up an integrated electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in the state, entailing an investment of Rs 40,000 crore. Once completed, the project will mark JSW Group's foray into the automobile space. Union Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi has launched the second tranche of the auction of critical and strategic mineral blocks. The government also plans to launch the first tranche of offshore minerals auctions by June-July this year.

Cairn gave up right to claim interest: Vedanta to appeal against Sebi order

Billionaire Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Ltd on Wednesday said it will appeal against Sebi levying Rs 77.6 crore penalty for delay in paying dividends to its erstwhile shareholder, Cairn Energy, saying the UK firm had given up its right to claim interest when it settled a retrospective tax demand with the government. Sebi had on Tuesday ordered Vedanta to pay Rs 77.62 crore to Scottish explorer Cairn and also barred the firm's entire board, including his brother Navin and daughter Priya, from accessing the capital market for the same. "Vedanta Ltd will appeal the Sebi order before the appropriate forum," the firm said in a statement. Vedanta had in 2011 bought Cairn Energy's majority stake in its Indian arm, Cairn India Ltd. Cairn continued to hold a minority stake in Cairn India, which was subsequently merged into its parent and Mumbai-listed Vedanta Ltd. In 2014, the Income Tax department gave it powers to levy taxes retrospectively, to seek Rs 10,247 crore in capital gains tax from th

Vedanta told to pay Cairn Rs 77.6 crore, Board barred from market

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in a 76-page order said Vedanta must make the payment within 45 days or face further action

CBI summons SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday in illegal mining cases

The CBI has summoned Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as a witness for questioning on Friday in illegal mining cases, five years after registering the case. In a notice issued under section 160 of CrPC, the agency asked him to appear before it on February 29 in connection with the case registered in 2019, officials said. The section allows a police officer to summon witnesses in a probe. The case pertains to the issuance of mining leases in alleged violation of e-tendering process. The Allahabad High Court had ordered the probe. It is alleged that public servants allowed illegal mining during 2012-16, when Yadav was chief minister, and illegally renewed licences despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal on mining. It is alleged that the officers allowed theft of minerals, extorted money from lease-holders and drivers. The CBI had filed seven preliminary enquiries in 2016 on the directions of the Allahabad High Court to probe the

Vedanta eyes $6 bn Ebitda in FY25, reiterates guidance on profit targets

Mining conglomerate Vedanta Group is eyeing USD 6 billion of pre-tax profits in the next financial year and scaling it to USD 7-7.5 billion in the following year on the back of operational efficiencies across businesses. "The building blocks are already in place, and largely under our control for EBITDA augmentation. The increase will be driven by ongoing cost optimization, price increases and volume ramp-up," Ajay Goel, CFO, Vedanta Limited said at a recent analysts' meet. The company is expected to clock nearly USD 5 billion of EBITDA in FY24 (April 2023 to March 2024); adjusting for one-time gains of the Cairn arbitration, the operational EBITDA for FY24 will be USD 4.4 billion. The ambitious EBITDA target of USD 6 billion represents a jump of over 35 per cent. "Most of this growth, nearly 15 per cent, will be driven by cost optimization measures. Price upticks, for example through increase in value added aluminium products, will account for another 8 per cent. Ramp-ups in ...

Vedanta group's Hindustan Zinc forays into strategic mineral exploration

Vedanta group firm Hindustan Zinc on Tuesday announced the formation of new subsidiary Hindmetal Exploration Services Pvt Ltd. The development aims at the company's foray into strategic mineral exploration and diversification of its portfolio. "In line with our vision and with our strategic exploration objective to upgrade Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources (R&R), the company has incorporated Hindmetal Exploration Services Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hindustan Zinc Ltd, with an objective to explore, discover, develop and tap mineral resources," Hindustan Zinc said in a regulatory filing. The arm was incorporated on Monday, it said. In the last decade, the Centre has introduced significant transformational reforms to open up the mineral sector to ensure its contribution to achieving the national policy goals and also allowed private sector participation in the exploration and mining of critical minerals which were earlier mined only by government companies, it ...