NMDC Ltd has commissioned its 2 MTPA pellet plant at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh as part of a ₹5,427 crore integrated iron ore processing project. The project connects the company’s Bacheli mining operations with its steel plant at Nagarnar.
Integrated iron ore project strengthens NMDC operations
The integrated project includes an iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, a 15 MTPA slurry pipeline and a 2 MTPA pellet plant at Nagarnar.
The 135-km slurry pipeline transports processed iron ore concentrate from Bacheli to Nagarnar. It provides an alternative to road transportation and supports dedicated ore evacuation.
The project covers the complete movement of iron ore from processing to pellet production. It also strengthens NMDC’s presence across the iron ore value chain.
NMDC pellet plant begins production
The maiden production from the pellet plant was monitored live from NMDC’s headquarters. Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee and senior company officials monitored the production.
Adverse weather conditions prevented the leadership team from travelling to the project site.
The facilities will allow NMDC to process iron ore fines and slimes from its Bailadila mines into concentrate. The company will then convert the concentrate into pellets.
The pellet plant uses Straight Grate Induration technology. It produces pellets for use in steelmaking.
“Today is a day of immense pride for everyone at NMDC. This has not been an easy project to execute. It involved the processing facilities, the actual slurry pipeline and the pellet plant. But today is a red-letter day—a day we have been waiting for a long time. This is the day when our collective dream is coming true,” Amitava Mukherjee, Chairman and Managing Director, NMDC Ltd., said.
NMDC expands value-added iron ore portfolio
The commissioning strengthens NMDC’s presence across mining, beneficiation, slurry transportation and pellet production.
The project also adds a value-added product to NMDC’s portfolio. It will help the company make greater use of iron ore fines and slimes generated from its Bailadila operations.
The development forms part of NMDC’s broader expansion and diversification strategy. The company is working towards increasing its iron ore production capacity to 100 million tonnes in the long term.
Slurry pipeline creates dedicated evacuation link
The slurry pipeline passes through 61 villages in the Bastar and Dantewada districts.
The pipeline reduces the need to transport processed ore by road. It provides an alternative evacuation route and reduces dependency on rail transportation.
The dedicated pipeline also strengthens the connection between NMDC’s Bacheli operations and the Nagarnar steel plant.
Source: PIB
