New Delhi, Jul 30 (KNN)  Mineral producer of the government, NMDC is taking steps to increase its production of iron ore by opening up new iron ore mines and expanding the capacity of existing iron ore mines. 
 
This was stated by Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Vishnu Deo Sai in the Rajya Sabha today.  He pointed out that since iron ore is in the deregulated sector; its supply is sourced by the individual companies based on their individual requirement.
 
The Minister said that the consumption of iron ore by the domestic industries during 2013-14 was estimated at 103.73 million tonnes, whereas total production of iron ore in the country during 2013-14 was 152.06 million tonnes (P).
 
He went on to say that the National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NDMC) had produced 30.2 million tonnes of iron ore during 2013-14 which is only about 20 per cent of the total iron ore production of 152.06 (P) million tonnes in the country during 2013-14.
 
NMDC had supplied about 27 per cent of the estimated consumption of iron ore by the domestic industries in 2013-14.  The remaining requirement of iron ore by the domestic industry was either sourced from captive iron ore mines or was supplied by other iron ore producers.
 
Iron ore produced and supplied by NDMC during the last years was 27.3 million tonnes in 2011-12; 27 million tonnes in 2012-13 and 30.2 million tonnes in 2013-14.
 
As far as sales are concerned, in 2011-12: 0.39 million tonnes was exported while 26.91 million tonnes was sold domestically; in 2012-13: 1.60 million tonnes was exported while 24.67 million tonnes was sold within the country; and in 2013-14: 2.3 million tonnes was exported while 28.2 million tonnes went for domestic purposes.  (KNN/ES)