Orissa Minerals Development Company, incorporated in the year 1918, is one of the oldest iron ore mining companies. It is part of the Bird group of companies under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel, Government of India. The Bisra Stone Lime Company, Karanpura Development Company, Scott & Saxby, Eastern Investments, Burrakur Coal Company (under liquidation), and Borrea Coal Company (under liquidation) are other group companies. Apart from mining and marketing of iron ore, the company is engaged in the field of mining and marketing of manganese ore. The company has six mining leases in the Keonjhar district of Orissa. With respect to the Bagiaburu iron ore mines (21.52 hectares) and Bhadrasai iron and manganese mines (998.7 hectares), the lease period is valid upto Sep. 30, 2010. Renewal is pending regarding the remaining four leases. A 100 TPD sponge iron plant has been set up and measures taken to enhance crushing capacity by installing and commissioning an additional crushing and screening plant.
The Government extends financial support in the areas of development of mines, clearing outstanding dues, creating facilities for sizing iron ore and replacement of old and worn out equipment and providing new equipment. A joint venture (JV) in the name and style of East India Minerals is in place with a 26% stake. The JV was set up for production of sponge grade iron ore and has a crushing and screening plant of 1 million MT capacity. The company has entered into direct exports of iron ore fines and earns good amount of foreign exchange. The registered office is at FD-350 Salt Lake City, Sector III, Kolkata-700106.