MOIL, formerly known as Manganese Ore India Ltd, a central public sector enterprise under the ministry of steel, is aiming at opportunities in lithium mining and is preparing to participate in upcoming auctions. The company is strategising to expand its manganese ore mining operations beyond its current leasehold areas.
The exploration plans include regions in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, Goa, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. As a Miniratna company, MOIL primarily engages in the production and sale of various grades of manganese ore, with a significant portion utilised in the steel-making process.
As reported by businessline, the company has established a 1,500-metric ton per annum (mtpa) capacity plant employing indigenous technology to produce electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD), a key component in the manufacturing of dry battery cells. MOIL presently operates ten mines, six in Maharashtra and four in Madhya Pradesh.
Ajit Kumar Saxena, Chairman and Managing Director, MOIL commented, “The company is open to any kind of exploration or mining or even forward integration. Mining needs to move beyond bulk minerals. We are focussing on lithium mining. Whenever it is open for public, the auctions are there, then perhaps we will be participating. Our mines are as deep as 400 metres. And you can say, in one to one and a half years we are going to the level of 650 metres. So we have competence”.
