NMDC’s new pellet plant could make iron ore transport faster and more efficient in Chhattisgarh's Bastar
The commissioning of NMDC’s new pellet plant—with an annual capacity of 2 million tonnes—in Nagarnar could transform iron ore transport and processing methods in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
The plant is part of an integrated project worth Rs 5,427 crore that links NMDC’s iron ore operations in Bacheli to its steel plant in Nagarnar. The project includes a new ore processing facility in Bacheli and a 135-kilometer-long slurry pipeline with an annual capacity of 15 million tonnes.
What changes will occur on the ground?
Instead of transporting processed ore primarily by road, the new pipeline will carry iron ore concentrate from Bacheli to Nagarnar. Passing through 61 villages across the Bastar and Dantewada districts, the pipeline is expected to reduce road-based ore transportation while providing an alternative to rail transport.
The new plant will convert iron ore concentrate into pellets—a form of processed ore used in steelmaking. This will also enable NMDC to better utilize the iron ore fines (fine particles) and slimes generated at its Bailadila mines.
For the region, this project signifies a more integrated network spanning from mining to steel production, potentially enhancing ore transport and processing capabilities. NMDC is also expanding its operations as part of a long-term plan to increase its iron ore production capacity to 100 million tonnes.