Parliament Question: Grant of graphite mining lease in Salepali, Bolangir district, Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3477 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 GRANT OF GRAPHITE MINING LEASE IN SALEPALI, BOLANGIR DISTRICT, ODISHA 3477. SHRI NIRANJAN BISHI: Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state: (a) whether any mining lease, composite licence or auction has been conducted for graphite mineral blocks in Salepali area of Patnagarh Block in Bolangir district; (b) if so, the name of the successful bidder/company, date of auction/approval and extent of the lease area granted; (c) the estimated graphite reserves in the said block; and (d) the current status of operationalization of the mining project? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY) (a) to (d): One Composite Licence (CL) block for graphite, namely Salepali Graphite Block having area 1223.29 hectares with estimated 0.153 million ton graphite resources, has been successfully auctioned in the Salepali area of Patnagarh Block in Bolangir district of Odisha on 15.05.2025 to Vinmir Resources Pvt. Ltd. The Preferred Bidder has been declared on 27.05.2025 and the Letter of Intent (LoI) issued on 18.07.2025. *****