Lifting of Karnataka iron-ore restrictions brings miners and consumers into fresh conflict

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), the body appointed by India’s Supreme Court on all matters related to mining, has recommended lifting restrictions on iron-ore pellet exports from the southern province of Karnataka, bringing to the fore the conflict between producers and consumers of the raw material. The committee of the apex court justifies the export of iron-ore pellets from Karnataka using the premise that it will tackle a glut of raw material at pitheads, but steel companies have flayed the move to export the raw materials as many of the mills have to either source the raw material from neighboring states, incurring higher transport costs, or resort to imports to keep their steel mills running.