Odisha to renew 18 iron ore mine licences – official

India’s top iron ore producing state Odisha is likely to renew the licences of 18 iron ore mines shut since last year, a state official said on Saturday, in a boost for local steel producers.A panel of senior government officials in Odisha has recommended the reopening of the mines, which were closed last year due to non-renewal of years-old leases, the state’s mining director Deepak Kumar Mohanty said. “We expect to complete the renewal process in 10 days,” Mohanty said.