Panaji, Oct 4: Iron ore exporters from Goa today claimed that the demand for low grade of ore in China has helped to prolong the life of mining industry in the state.
"The ore which was stacked as rejection at the mining site was exported during last few years after China boom," Shivanand Salgaoncar, President, Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) told reporters today.
"The high grade ore in the earth is left untapped. This will increase the lifespan of the industry," he said adding "Thanks to China boom, traditional mine owners prospered. Lot of dumps that were lying idle were exported to the neighbouring country," Salgaoncar stated.
Goa is the largest iron ore exporter with almost 54 million tones of ore being sent from two of its ports - Mormugao Port Trust and Panaji port.
Responding to a question on possible life span of ore mines in the state, Salgaoncar said that it is not possible to say for sure as to when would ore reserves in Goa exhaust.
"Each mining firm will be able to tell you what the lifespan of their lease is. I have been hearing since 30 years that the lifespan is not more than 30 years. But ore still exists," he observed.
Salgaoncar, whose association has 34 major exporters as its members, said that there cannot be any particular cap prescribed for extraction of ore.
"It is for individual lease holder to decide how much he can extract and for how much permission he has received," he added. PTI
