OREANDA-NEWS. April 11, 2011. Sesa Goa Limited ("SGL" or the "Company") today announced its unaudited production release for the fourth quarter ("Q4") and full year ended ("FY2011") 31 March 2011.

Production of iron ore was 5.49 million tonnes (6.24 million tonnes on a WMT basis) in Q4, 21% lower than the corresponding prior period, due to the state-wide export ban in Karnataka since end July 2010, and termination of the third party mining agreement in Orissa in November 2010. Production for the full year was marginally lower at 18.80 million tonnes (21.08 million tonnes on a WMT basis). The Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that the Karnataka export ban is to be lifted from 20 April 2011. The final hearing of the case is expected in the first week of May 2011.

Sales of iron ore were 6.65 million tonnes (7.53 million tonnes on a WMT basis) in Q4 as compared with 6.55 million tonnes (7.37 million tonnes on a WMT basis) in the corresponding prior quarter. Sales for the year were 18.14 million tonnes (20.37 million tonnes on a WMT basis), in line with 18.39 million tonnes (20.52 million tonnes on a WMT basis) sold during the prior year.

The iron ore capacity expansion programme is on track for completion by the end of FY 2012-13. Expansion of the pig iron capacity to 625 ktpa and the associated expansion of metallurgical coke capacity to 560 ktpa is progressing well for commissioning by Q3 FY 2011-12.