Kathmandu, April 19:
The Department of Mines
and Geology (DMG) is planning to give special focus to iron mining in the next
decade.
“In the past decade, limestone got special attention which helped make
the country self-reliant in cement, and we, soon, will have cement surplus. The
next product will be iron which equally has the potential to have significant
impact in the country’s economy,” said Director General of the DMG Dr. Somnath Sapkota.
He said that policy would be created to rope in the private sector
companies and entrepreneurs in iron mining and processing, new technology would
be transferred, and the areas where mapping conducted earlier would be
revisited.
According to him, the primary need of the country is the latest mining
technology.
Dr. Sapkota also said that the model iron exploration and excavation
would soon be developed.
“Public-Private-Partnership, Built-Own-Operate-Transfer, government or
any other suitable model would be adopted after consulting with the
stakeholders in order to find the sustainable development of iron mining in the
country,” he said.
He also said that single mine might not be feasible in Nepal as the
minerals were scattered in multiple deposits across the country, so collective
license should be given to the mining companies.
Meanwhile, the DMG is set to conclude the feasibility study of iron ore
deposits in Dhaubadi of Nawalparasi district in Gandaki State within a year.
Dr. Sapkota said that the site was estimated to have more than 100
million geological reserves of iron ore.
The DMG is conducting chemical testing at Dhaubadi in order to get the
exact potential of the site.
The country has iron deposits in Phulchoki in Lalitpur, Those of
Ramechhap, Purchaundi of Baitadi, Dhuwakot of Parbat, Jirbang of Chitwan,
Labdikhola of Tanahun, Dahabagar, Kachali and Ekghar in Bajhang district.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 April 2019.
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