Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], December 27 (ANI): The Odisha government will hold a high-level meeting on January 3, 2026, to finalise the annual auction calendar for major mineral blocks as well as critical and strategic mineral blocks. The move is in line with the Ministry of Mines’ directive to bring greater predictability and transparency to the mineral auction process.
According to an official communication from the Department of Steel and Mines, the meeting will be chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Steel and Mines Department. It will take place at 4:00 pm in the Steel Room of the department in Bhubaneswar.
The Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has advised states to prepare and publish an annual auction calendar for mineral blocks within prescribed timelines. In pursuance of this directive, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG), Odisha, has proposed a list of major mineral blocks along with critical and strategic mineral blocks for inclusion in the state’s annual auction calendar.
The proposed blocks have been explored by agencies including the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DoMG), Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Geological Survey of India (GSI), and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL). The lists of identified blocks are enclosed as Annexure-I for major minerals and Annexure-II for critical and strategic minerals in the official communication.
Annexure-I lists major mineral blocks, including iron ore, manganese, bauxite, limestone, dolomite, copper, and gold. These blocks are located across districts such as Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Bargarh, and Sambalpur. Several of these blocks are at G2 and G3 levels of exploration, indicating advanced readiness for auction consideration.
Annexure-II details critical and strategic mineral blocks proposed under different licence categories for the financial years 2025–26 and 2026–27. These include graphite, rare earth elements (REE), vanadiferous magnetite, titanium, vanadium, tin, and base metals such as copper, nickel, gold, and silver.
Districts covered under this annexure include Kalahandi, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Deogarh, Malkangiri, and Balangir. Some of these blocks have established resources, while others are at advanced stages of exploration.
The January 3 meeting will review the suitability, exploration status, and auction readiness of the proposed mineral blocks before finalising the annual auction calendar. The Director of Mines and Geology, Odisha, has been directed to make a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the identified blocks during the meeting.
Officials from OMC, GSI, MECL, and the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) have been requested to attend the meeting and provide relevant technical and exploration information to facilitate informed decision-making.
Odisha’s Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, speaking to ANI, said that no mining auctions have been held since 2023. He said that after the present government came to power, 30 mines were prepared for auction, of which eight have already been auctioned.
He added that Notices Inviting Tenders (NITs) have been issued for 12 of the remaining mines, while the remaining 10 mines will also be auctioned in January. After these auctions, the Government of India’s Mines Department prepares an annual auction plan.
“The 2026–27 calendar will include 35 major mines. Six critical mines will be included in 2025–26, and eight critical mines in 2027. This meeting will finalise the annual action plan. All the mines will be auctioned by 2026–27,” the Odisha minister further said. (ANI)
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