SAIL intends to bring in professional global mining firms to operate its Chiria and Rowghat iron ore mines and the high grade coal blocks at Tasara. The company is looking for major mining companies who can offer the latest mining techniques with the least amount of waste and best environmental practices at Rowghat and Tasara. Big companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton could be expected to bid for these projects. SAIL plans to mine between 5 million tns to 7 million tns of high grade iron ore per year from the three blocks of Chiria which hold approximately 1.2 billion tns of reserves. A two phase INR 3500 crore plan to expand mining and set up a beneficiation plant in the area is in the works.
