MOIL to double manganese ore production to 2 MT by 2020-21

Nagpur, Aug 31 (PTI) State-run MOIL is set to enhanceproduction of manganese ore up to 2.5 million tonnes by2020-21, a top company executive has said. Manganese Ore India Ltd (MOIL) is the single largestproducer of manganese ore in the country with an annualproduction of 1.1 million tonnes (MT). It is planning to increase the number of mines in centralIndia by 2020-24 which will help it to increase theproduction. "MOIL is set to enhance production of manganese ore up to2.5 MT 2020-21. India is producing two million tonnes ofmanganese ore while we are importing 10 MT from othercountries, to meet the requirement," MOIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director G P Kundergi said. A day before his superannuation Kundergi told reportersyesterday that the Centre is planning to increase theproduction which will help to reduce import. "The company has already taken up mining developmentprojects to sustain and enhance the production level. In thisdirection, two new vertical shafts have already beencommissioned at Mansar and Ukwa Mines of company whiledeepening of the existing shafts has also been undertaken inBalaghat and Kandri Mines," Kundargi said. He further said the company is planning to enter into thefield of power generation through non-conventional sourcessuch as wind and solar. MOIL operates about 10 mines – six in Maharashtra and fourin Madhya Pradesh. Balaghat Mine is the largest mine of thecompany which produces one of the best quality of manganeseore in the country and is also the deepest undergroundmanganese mine in Asia. On the welfare front, MOIL takes care of miners health byconducting different projects and workshops for their health. "MOIL is planning to work with National Institute ofMiners Health (NIMH) for better health of miners," Kundargiadded. He said MOIL is working for waste management along withNEERI and Engineering institution, VNIT to utilise manganesewaste. The company planted about two lakh saplings near the minesto maintain the environmental balance. (More) PTI JOE NRBABIRYS