From Canada to Gadchiroli: Inside Tata Steel’s race to secure raw material after it loses legacy mines
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. MUMBAI , NEW DELHI : For years, iron ore was one thing Tata Steel never lost sleep over. Owning captive mines meant predictable supply, stable costs and a structural edge over rivals who depended on expensive mines acquired through auctions or remained at the mercy of the markets.
This is, however, set to change, as the company will lose the edge when its legacy mining leases begin to expire starting 2030. To secure a stable supply for iron ore, the key raw material to make steel, the company has cast a wide net that stretches from the cold mountains of Labrador in Canada to the Gadchiroli forests in Maharashtra. “Maharashtra, Canada, all these are options to post 2030," T.V.
Narendran, chief executive officer of Tata Steel told Mint on Monday, describing the company’s efforts at securing iron ore supplies. This, he said, was in addition to the mines it has acquired in India under the new auction regime. Tata Steel, the oldest steelmaker in Asia, currently meets 100% of its iron ore requirements in India through its six legacy mines awarded to it before the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, which requires all mines to be auctioned, rather than nominated by the government.
India’s second largest steelmaker has joined hands with a key player in central India’s mineral ecosystem, who has managed to successfully mine iron ore—and will soon also be making steel from this ore—in a Maoist conflict-prone region that few businesses dared to venture into. In December 2025, Tata Steel acquired a 50.01% stake in Thriveni Pellets Pvt Ltd. (TPPL), forming a joint venture with Lloyd Metals & Energy Ltd.
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