Question : PROCUREMENT OF IRON ORE

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (DR. AKHILESH DAS)

(a) Most of the quantity of iron ore in India is procured and exported from Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka and Jharkhand. The details of total quantity of iron ore procured and exported are as under:-

Year	Quantity (Million Tonnes)
2004-05	78.14
2005-06	89.27
2006-07 (Provisional)	93.79

Source: - Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA), Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL), National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), MMTC Limited and Private Exporters.

(b) As per the current Foreign Trade Policy, export of iron ore with iron content upto 64% is freely exportable. Export of iron ore with iron content more than 64% is canalized through the designated State Trading Enterprise, namely, the MMTC Ltd.

(c)&(d): Yes, Sir. Iron ore is also being exported by private mine owners. Goa Mineral Ore Exporters` Association and private mine owners are exporting iron ore with iron content upto 64% directly. Government is also issuing licences to private mine owners for direct export of iron ore with iron content above 64%. The details of iron ore exported by private sector during the last three years are as under:-

Year	Quantity (Million Tonnes)
2004-05	61.90
2005-06	76.18
2006-07 (Provisional)	84.95

Source: - Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA), Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL), MMTC Limited and Private Exporters.