Goa restarts iron ore mining after 12-year halt

India’s Goa state has resumed iron ore mining after a 12-year gap, however, only three of the 12 auctioned blocks have started production, Kallanish notes.

Mining in Goa was halted in 2012 following a Supreme Court investigation into illegal activity. At its peak in 2009-10, the region exported up to 50 million tonnes/year of low-grade ore, mostly to China.

The state has since auctioned 12 blocks across three rounds starting in 2022. As of July 2025, only three are operational. Four more await final clearances from India’s environment and forest ministry.

Two more blocks may start after the monsoon. However, none of the blocks auctioned last year have been cleared for mining.

Goa's mining department says operational blocks will be assigned production limits to stay within the 20m t/y export cap imposed by the Supreme Court.

The state has also approved a new policy to auction legacy iron ore dumps. These are low-grade stockpiles left behind by earlier miners.

Mining of these is set to begin from October 2025. Dumps on government-owned land will be auctioned separately.

Traders expect a gradual return of Goa’s iron ore exports. Timelines will depend on regulatory approvals and logistics readiness.