NMDC commissions ₹5,427 crore integrated iron ore project in Chhattisgarh
By Staff Report 1 September 28, 2026 6:37 pm IST
NMDC has commissioned a ₹5,427 crore integrated project comprising iron ore processing, slurry transportation and pellet production facilities in Chhattisgarh.
State-owned mining company NMDC has commissioned a ₹5,427 crore integrated iron ore processing, slurry pipeline and pellet-making project in Chhattisgarh, expanding its operations across the iron ore value chain.
The project comprises a new iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, a 15 million tonne per annum (MTPA) slurry pipeline and a 2 MTPA pellet plant at Nagarnar, according to a Ministry of Steel press release.
The 135-km slurry pipeline will transport processed iron ore concentrate from Bacheli to Nagarnar, providing an alternative to road transportation. The pipeline passes through 61 villages across the Bastar and Dantewada districts and is also expected to reduce NMDC’s dependence on railways for transporting processed ore.
The newly commissioned facilities will enable NMDC to process iron ore fines and slimes generated from its Bailadila mines into concentrate, which will subsequently be converted into pellets. The pellet plant uses Straight Grate Induration technology to manufacture pellets for steelmaking.
The project expands NMDC’s activities across the iron ore value chain, covering mining, beneficiation, slurry transportation and pellet production. It will also enable the company to make greater use of iron ore fines and slimes generated from its Bailadila operations while adding pellets as a value-added product.
NMDC Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee described the commissioning as a significant milestone for the company. He said the project had involved the processing facilities, slurry pipeline and pellet plant and had been challenging to execute. The project forms part of NMDC’s broader expansion and diversification strategy as the company works towards increasing its iron ore production capacity to 100 million tonnes in the long term.
Source: Business Standard
