OREANDA-NEWS. Rule 24A(6) of Mineral Concession Rules (MCR), 1960 was amended to restrict the provision of deemed extension to two years for mining leases whose applications are pending for first renewals only. The provision of deemed extension has not been extended to cases of mining leases whose second/subsequent renewals are pending. The amendment was notified vide GSR 510(E) dated 18.7.2014.

            The Second Schedule and Third Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 which prescribe the rates of royalty for major minerals (excluding coal, lignite and sand for stowing) and dead rent respectively, have been amended revising the rates of royalty and dead rent. The amendment has been notified vide GSR 630 (E) and 631 (E) dated 01.9.2014.

            Rule 24A (1), Rule 33 and Form K of MCR, 1960 has been amended to: (i) allow for making an application for renewal 24 months before the mining lease is due to expiry; (ii) make survey and demarcation of the mining lease area through Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS); and (iii) erection and maintenance of boundary pillars at a distance of not more than 50 meters etc. The amendment was notified vide GSR 710(E) dated 8.10.2014.

MINERAL EXPLORATION CORPORATION LIMITED (MECL)

The performance of the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd.(MECL) in all spheres has been higher than performance of previous years. The achievement in exploratory drilling has shown an increasing trend year after year and has been highest in the year 2013-14 during last 23 years while the gross revenue & net profit has been highest since inception of the company.

Dividend to Government of India: With continuous improvement in the financial performance, the company has paid a dividend of Rs. 4.13 crores to Govt. of India for the year 2012-13 after a gap of 33 years

Mineral Reserves: During the year 2013-14, a total of 26 exploration reports for different minerals like Coal, Lignite, Copper and limestone etc. have been submitted. A total of 1143 Million Tonnes of reserves of various minerals were added to the National Mineral Inventory during the year.

Drilling: A total of 346553 meters of drilling was carried out.

Net Profit: The net profit of the company has been Rs.25.46 crores registering an increase of 23% of Rs. 20.66 crores over same period of previous year.

HINDUSTAN COPPER LIMITED (HCL)

1.        Ore & MIC production of the financial year concluded in March 2014  was highest in last 15 years and 12 years respectively. The ore & MIC production achieved was 38.26 lakh tonnes and 32,276 MT respectively.

2.        As a steps towards “Make in India”, the Company has initiated steps to manufacture value added products of copper like contact wire for Railways, copper foils, sheet, tubes, bus bars, profiles etc. in Joint Venture with Private player.

3.        The Company is actively participating in the Swachha Vidyalaya Abhiyan  and has committed expenditure for construction/repair of 207 toilets covering 140 schools.

4.        HCL has been conferred the prestigious SKOCH “Order of Merit ‘2014” for CSR project namely ‘Systematic Rice Intensification’ and has been selected as amongst the best projects in the Country.

NATIONAL ALUMINIUM COMPANY LIMITED (NALCO)

1.        NALCO achieved highest Alumina export of 13.09 lakh MT and highest export earnings of Rs. 3,719 crore. The Company achieved sales turnover of Rs. 7024 crore and net profit of Rs. 642 crore. The Company paid 30% dividend for FY13-14 amounting to Rs. 386.59 crore. NALCO has been rated “Excellent” in Corporate Governance by DPE for FY 2013-14. For the year 2014-15, sales turnover, net profit & Export earnings are Rs. 3852 crore, Rs. 613 crore and Rs. 1677 crore respectively till H1.

2.        During the year 2013-14, Bauxite Mines and Alumina Refinery have achieved highest ever production since inception with bauxite transportation of 62.93 lakh MT and Alumina Hydrate production of 19.25 lakh MT respectively. Aluminium Smelter achieved cast metal production of 3.16 lakh MT and CPP achieved ‘Net Power Generation’ of 4,989 MU. In the year, 150MU of wind power was generated by the Company.

3.        The 2nd Wind Power Plant of 47.6MW in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan was commissioned in January, 2014. 

4.        32,77,000 shares of NALCO has been sold to the employees of NALCO through employee offer scheme in June 2014, post disinvestment of 6.09% of shares through offer for sale (OFS) route in March, 2013. Govt. of India presently holds 80.93% of NALCO’s share.

5.        Aluminium Smelter was certified to ISO 50001 Energy Management System in August, 2014.

6.        Responding to the call of Hon’ble Prime Minister, NALCO has committed to construct toilets in 160 schools in Odisha under “Swachh Bharat-Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan” at an approx. Cost of Rs. 5 crore.

7.        NALCO has decided to extend rehabilitation benefits to substantially affected persons of Mines & Refinery Complex, Damanjodi over and above the Land Displaced Persons (LDPs) in line with Rehabilitation benefits extended at S&P Complex, Angul.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

1.         In compliance with the Work Programme decided during the 8th meeting of JWG on Mining and Minerals held with Australia on 12 June, 2013 at New Delhi, three geologists  from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) were got trained during  1st June 2014 to 31st October 2014 by the Geoscience Australia, Government of Australia, for skill up gradation and capacity building on exploration techniques for deep seated mining.

2.         In compliance with the decision taken in the 7th Meeting of the JWG on Geology and Mineral Resources between India and Ontario Province, Canada held on 7th March, 2014 at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, five persons were trained by the mining experts  of the  Ontario province of Canada in Sudbury  from 27th September to 4thOctober, 2014 for the purpose of capacity building relating to mine closure measures, reclamation and rehabilitation process.