Sijimali Bauxite Mining Project

Why in News?

Recently, Clashes between police and tribal villagers in Rayagada district, Odisha over the construction of an approach road to the Sijimali bauxite mine.

Bauxite

• Bauxite is the primary ore used worldwide to produce aluminum.
• It mainly consists of hydrated aluminum oxides, aluminum hydroxides, iron hydroxides, and silica.
• It is a reddish-brown, soft, sedimentary rock found largely in tropical regions.
• It is refined and smelted to produce aluminum metal through the Bayer process.
• Over 90% of bauxite is refined into alumina, then into aluminium metal.
• Other Uses - Beyond aluminum production, it is used in refractories, chemicals, cement, and abrasives.
• Key Locations - Major deposits are located in Australia, Guinea, Brazil, and India.

Sijimali Bauxite Mining Project

• Location – Rayagada & Kalahandi districts, Odisha (Eastern Ghats hill ranges).
• Led by - Vedanta Limited to fuel aluminum production.
• Reserve Size – 311 million tonnes of high‑grade bauxite.
• Production - The project aims for 6 to 9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of bauxite over a 50-year lease, with estimated reserves of 220–311 million tonnes.
• Clearances – Stage‑1 forest clearance obtained; Stage‑2 pending.

Odisha accounts for 41% of India’s bauxite resources and 73% of the total national output. Odisha also rich in iron ore, coal, nickel, gemstones, graphite (17% of India’s mineral reserves).

Reference

Indian Express | Bauxite Mining