Lok Sabha Question No. 135 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-02
Subject: Low Grade Iron Ore
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 135

ANSWERED ON 02.02.2022

## LOW GRADE IRON ORE

## 135. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to beneficiate low grade iron ore into commercial grade to fulfill the demand for raw material in steel making;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of the beneficiation plants for iron ore with iron content between 45-55% for the entire country, State-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has undertaken or sanctioned any Study to ascertain how beneficiation of 45% ore to 60% would benefit the economy and fulfill the demand for raw material in steel making;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f)  whether  the  Government  has framed  or is  in  the  process  of  framing  any  policy  to provide incentives to beneficiation and agglomeration industries to encourage them to set up such plants; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a)  &  (b):  The  National  Mineral  Policy  prescribes  beneficiation  of  low  grade  ores  into commercial  useable  grades  for  conserving  mineral  resources  of  the  country.  As  per Rule  18  of  the  Mineral  Conservation  and  Development  Rules,  2017,  beneficiation studies  are  to  be  carried  out  by  the  lessee,  if  the  sub-grade  ore  or  mineral  contains certain recoverable product. The beneficiation investigations are to be carried out from a laboratory accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration or an International Organization for Standardization laboratory approved by the Indian Bureau of  Mines  (IBM),  a  sub-ordinate  office  under Ministry  of  Mines,  or  the  Atomic  Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), as the case may be.

Further,  the  Mineral  Processing  Laboratories  of  IBM  have  undertaken  Research  & Development studies on different iron ores of the country viz. low grade & sub-grade ores, fines from dumps, slimes from tailing ponds etc. Suitable process flowsheets have been developed for recovery of iron values from various types of iron ore in India. IBM has also been conducting beneficiation studies on G2 level exploration blocks of iron ore  to  assess  their  amenability  to  beneficiation  and  upgradability  before  auctioning, since last six years. (c): No such data is maintained by Ministry of Mines. (d) & (e): Studies have been undertaken on beneficiation of low grade iron ore by IBM and it  has  been  found  that  beneficiation  of  45%  iron  ore  can  produce  concentrate  of 60% iron suitable for sinter & pellet making. (f)  &  (g):  Ministry  of  Mines  has  constituted  a  committee  vide  O.M.  No.  1/6/2021-M.VI dated 27.12.2021 to examine the issues regarding utilization of low and lean grade iron

ore resources in the country.

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