Prolonged monsoon hits mining industry

PANJIM, NOV 18
The extended monsoon which has caused heavy losses to the agriculture produce in the state has not spared the mining industry with the shipment of minerals ore has reducing drastically.
The Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) in certain minerals have exceeded average limit due to rains and consequently, there has been drop in the shipments, Captain of Ports James Braganza told Herald on Thursday.
Post monsoon lashing have led to increase in TML of mineral ore and it cannot be fit for export until there is drop in TML, he said.
However, CoP, said export will pick up by the next month if there are no more post monsoon showers and they will able to achieve their target of 5 per cent increase in shipment.
Last season, exports through Panjim Port was 11 million tonne minerals which is 25 per cent of the total mineral export from Goa as balance 75 per cent shipments go through Mormugao Port.
S Sridhar, Secretary of the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association when contacted said rains have affected the export of minerals, however, he maintained that the loss cannot be quantified right away.
“We will be able to quantify the loss caused due to delay in shipment only next month,” Sridhar said.