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Ambarish Mukherjee

Export policy should be reviewed every 3 years: Committee

New Delhi , Dec. 12

The Committee of Secretaries set up by the Government to look into the issue of iron ore exports has not been able to reach a consensus on whether export of ore having 64 per cent or more iron content should continue or should be restricted.

In its report, the committee has suggested that since it was impossible to reach a consensus, the matter may be decided appropriately by the Government.

Regarding exports, the committee felt that the policy should be reviewed every three years.

Some Suggestions

It has, however, suggested regulation of the extraction of low-grade ore by both captive and non-captive miners through mining plan.

The committee has also suggested that it should be made mandatory for all captive and new steel capacities to beneficiate, sinter and palletise the ore, subject to their respective technical requirements. Simultaneously, incentives should be given for beneficiation, the report said.

In order to have a roadmap about future requirements, it has suggested constitution of a group to study the demand and supply projections of steel, and consequently iron ore of various grades and types in the country.

Differences persist

The committee comprised representatives from the Ministry of Steel, Commerce, Mines, Industry, Finance and the Planning Commission.

While the Ministries of Mines, Commerce and Industry were of the opinion that there should be no ceiling on exports, the Ministry of Steel demanded that there should be a ceiling. The Planning Commission suggested setting up of tariff barriers.

According to sources, apart from asking for ceiling on exports at the present level, the Steel Ministry has also suggested tariff barriers on export of ore with 62 per cent or more iron content as well as regular reviews.

Sources said that since the report has now been submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat, it is up to the Government to work out a policy framework for iron ore exports. "We have put up the entire picture in the report along with some data. But we have not made any specific recommendations in favour or against continuation of exports," one of the members said.

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