[Ferro-Alloys.com] Bhubaneswar: Despite unprecedented lockdown due to the Coronavirus, Odisha government has decided to go ahead with the auction of two mining blocks as per the schedule. While the auction of Sukinda Cromite mines will be held today, the auction of Guali Iron Ore mines will be held tomorrow.

Since the auctions are being conducted on the electronic mode, it will not be affected due the guidelines enforced by the government in view of the Coronavirus pandemic, a senior official of the Odisha Steel & mines department said.

Several companies like the current lease holder Tata Steel (through its subsidiary TS Alloys), JSW Steel, Vedanta and JSPL are in the race for the Sukinda Chromite mines spread over an area of 406 hectres in Jajpur district. Similarly, as many as 14 companies including JSW, JSPL, Adani group, RP Sao, KJS Ahluwalia are in the race to bag the Guali Iron Ore mines located in the Keonjhar district of Odisha. The mines has estimated Iron Ore reserve of 195 million tonnes.

• [Editor:tianyawei]