Vedanta wins bid to buy bauxite from GMDC

UK-based Vedanta Resources, whose attempts to mine bauxite in Orissa's Niyamgiri hills faced a legal setback, has won a bid to acquire over five lakh Mt of the mineral from Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC).

"Vedanta has won the bids for sourcing over five lakh Mt of non-plant grade bauxite from our Gadhshisa mines in Kutch," GMDC Managing Director G S Gadhvi said.

"The company shall be lifting over 50,000 tonnes monthly, over the next nine months, from Ghadsisa mines in Kutch, and shall be transporting it through the sea route," official sources said.

"Mining shall be done by GMDC only," an official said.

In August, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had axed the Anil-Agarwal led Group's $1.7-billion bauxite mining project in Niyamgiri hills, in view of violations at the site. The company was to carry out mining through its subsidiary Sterlite India.

GMDC had invited bids last month for sale of over 9 lakh Mt of bauxite reserves available with it this year and Vedanta was one of the bidders.

"While, Vedanta has won the bid for procurement, the others in fray are still awaiting a decision of the internal committee," sources said.

"GMDC will receive Rs 33 crore through the sale, while the Gujarat government is expected to earn a handsome royalty on it," they said.

Currently, the state gets royalty of Rs 120 per tonne on the sale of bauxite, variable from time to time, sources at GMDC said.