The Odisha government announced on 15 May, 2025 that it is likely to auction around 30 iron ore mines this year, addressing a key concern raised by steel manufacturers over access to raw materials.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi gave this assurance during a meeting with a delegation from the Indian Steel Association (ISA), led by its president Naveen Jindal, at the State Secretariat, Lok Seva Bhawan. Responding to the industry's concerns, the government stated that "efforts are also on for an early start of mining from the already auctioned mines." 

Discussions also covered enabling steel companies to procure iron ore from the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) at convenient rates. CN Majhi stressed the importance of the mining and steel sector in achieving the state’s developmental goals. "Odisha will continue to play an important role in increasing the country's steel production," he stated. The CM also highlighted the state’s vision to build a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and become a growth engine for India by 2047.

Odisha, currently the top producer of iron ore and stainless steel in India, has 54 integrated steel plants with a combined capacity of 41.21 MTPA. It aims to raise steel production to 130 MTPA by 2030, which would require approx. 190 million tonne of iron ore. The meeting also noted the national target of raising steel production from 165 to 500 MTPA by 2047.