Country experience : India
During the hot, pre-monsoon period of June 2005, JSD was active in the state of Jarkhand, whose provincial capital Ranchi is located SE of New Delhi about 1.5 hour's flight by daily commercial jet. Jarkhand is one of India's generously endowed minerals provinces, rich in iron ore and coal, and for this reason, figures prominently in power generation and the iron and steel industry.
Humayan's tomb, New Delhi
The assignment took the form of a due diligence field trip, with JSD filling one role in a multi-disciplinary client technical team. The purpose was to investigate the feasibility of the establishment of a new integrated iron and steel mill, taking advantage of local reserves of coal and iron ore, plus abundant infrastructure such as railways and power supplies.
Small scale mining
Suitable iron ore and coal sources were investigated and initial discussions were entered into with the senior departmental officials of the state government. At the time of writing, investigations are continuing.
Iron ore mining in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district are nearly 26% of India’s reserves, has been stalled since March 2020 as statutory approvals remained pending. Lease expiries, lack of coordination between departments, and prolonged clearance procedures have left major mines closed, impacting revenue flows and local employment. The state had reserved the mines for Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation (JSMDC), but the Centre opposed the move, insisting on auctions. As a result, nine key iron ore mines, including SAIL’s Jhillingburu, Topailore, Budhaburu, and Tata Steel’s Vijaya II Ghatkuri are closed. Officials said delays in environmental approvals and mining licenses acted as a virtual ban on operations. The district mining officer confirmed that review processes were under way and clearances were expected soon. (August 2025)
