DAITARI IRON MINE
  
     
           The Daitari iron ore project is the flagship of OMC’s operations. It is fully mechanized with
two shift operation and one shift maintenance. Dhaitari is expected to produce three million tones of washed as well as screened
calibrated iron ore and fines. The second largest steel plant of orissa Neelachal Ispat Nigam principally outsources its raw material
requirement from Dhaitari.

         During the early part of sixties, the 50 million tonnes BF grade iron ore deposit explored by the
Indian Bureau of Mines was conceived as a mechanised iron ore mine for production of 2 million tonnes of washed iron ore for export
through 150 Kms. long express highway linked from Daitari to Paradip port.

         The mechanised mining , the Express Highway and development of Paradip Port was an integrated
project of the State of Orissa. Today, the Daitari Iron Ore Plant is the flagship of OMC’s operations. Fully mechanized with
round-the-clock operations.

         The mechanised mining , the Express Highway and development of Paradip Port was an integrated
project of the State of Orissa. Today, the Daitari Iron Ore Plant is the flagship of OMC’s operations. Fully mechanized with
round-the-clock operations.

         The mine is situated at an altitude of 860 meters stretched over a length of 2 Kms. having
band of iron ore of 100 meters depth. The crusher plant on the top of the hill is connected by a 3 Kms. long haul road to receive
iron ore from the mine face by large capacity dump trucks and passes on the crushed product of 100 mm size down to the washing plant
situated at the bottom of the hill through a 3.8 Kms. long belt conveyor.

         The product is screened and washed at the washing plant and then discharged to the bunkers for
storage of the finished product .the finished product was being hauled by trucks to Paradip Port through a 150 Kms. long Express
Highway and is now moved by railway connected to the port and is being exported to Japan, Romania, China, Malayasia, Pakistan
etc.

         Today Daitari is connected by a railway line upto Paradip port and the mineral is hauled by 60 tonner
railway wagons. Although the mechanised iron ore mining started in the year 1971, little over 5 million tonnes have been produced so
far mainly due to depressed market conditions.



Due to fluctuating export market for BF grade iron ore, the annual despatch was sluggish and did not
reach 0.5 million tonnes which necessiated production inspite of the capacity to produce 2 million tonnes pre annum.

Inspite of the nearness to the Port and the freight advantage for export, the first prestigious mine
of OMC suffered serious set backs all through the year mainly due to market condition . when the mine is very near to the Port , is far
away from different steel plants situated in the country and due to the extra cost of railway freight from Daitari the procurement by
indigenous steel plants, was prohibitive. Hence the mine had to depend upon the export market only.

Today, many steel plants are coming up around Daitari mine and will have a good market potential for
steady production and despatch of material at profit.