India's JSW Steel Ltd expects to be well supplied with iron ore over the next four months, though the company and other steel makers may face a shortage later if a mining ban in south India's Karnataka state isn't partially lifted.

Mr Seshagiri Rao Joint MD of JSW Steel said that steel mills in Karnataka state could expect total iron ore inflow of 10 million to 12 million tonnes from the state's court mandated auction system, which would meet the needs of the plants for four to five months at the most.

In two separate judgments in July and August, the Supreme Court of India banned mining in three iron ore rich districts of Karnataka to prevent further environmental degradation of these areas.

Currently, mines in these districts are allowed to sell stocks through a court mandated auction system. Also, state run NMDC Ltd is allowed to mine a million tonnes of ore a month and sell it via the auction system.

(Sourced from dowjones.com)