The Central Government and Chhattisgarh Government is likely to allocate an iron ore block to SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP).
The proposed allocation within the unexplored Eklama iron ore complex area with estimated deposits of around 80 million tonne, will help BSP in its captive needs.
The Eklama complex is expected to yield high-grade hematitic iron ore. Geological studies have discovered 39 ore occurrences with total probable reserves of 200 million tonne and of a grade containing 65 per cent iron.
BSP needs 9.5 million tpa of iron ore. The company is facing problems due to dwindling reserves at its Dalli-Rajhara mine in Chhattisgarh — and the lack of progress in developing the Rowghat deposits in the state.