Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL) has restarted mining operations at its Mithirda iron ore mine block in Odisha from Aug 27. The company resumed its mining operation with support from National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), which provides technical and financial assistance.
Indian Government has permitted NINL to restart mining operations at captive iron ore mines and sell in the open market up to 25pc of the annual production for a period of one year or until disinvestment of the company. Earlier, in January the central government invited preliminary bids for the strategic sale of NINL. NINL has permission to sell 1mn mt ore, annually for two years.
NINL is a joint venture between four central government-owned companies MMTC, NMDC, Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) and MECON — and two Odisha government companies, IPICOL and Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).