NMDC Limited, India's largest iron ore producer, has announced a major milestone. The company has commissioned its Rs 5,427 crore integrated project of iron ore processing plant, slurry pipeline and pellet plant in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. The press release was disclosed to the stock exchanges on 27th September 2026.
This is one of the most important expansion projects for NMDC in recent years and marks a big step in the company's value addition and diversification strategy.
At A Glance - Key Highlights
- Company: NMDC Limited
- Project Cost: Rs 5,427 crore
- Location: Bacheli to Nagarnar, Bastar, Chhattisgarh
- Key Facilities: Iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, 15 MTPA slurry pipeline, 2 MTPA pellet plant at Nagarnar
- Pipeline Length: 135 km, passes through 61 villages in Bastar and Dantewada
- Commissioning Date: 27th September 2026
- Technology: Straight Grate Induration technology for pellet making
What Is This New Project?
NMDC has commissioned a fully integrated system that connects its mining operations at Bacheli with its steel plant at Nagarnar.
The project has three major parts working together as one chain:
- Iron Ore Processing Plant at Bacheli: This plant will process iron ore fines and slimes from NMDC's Bailadila mines into high-quality concentrate.
- 135 Km Slurry Pipeline: This is a 15 MTPA capacity pipeline that will carry processed iron ore concentrate from Bacheli to Nagarnar. It provides an alternative to transporting material by road.
- 2 MTPA Pellet Plant at Nagarnar: At Nagarnar, the concentrate will be converted into pellets. These pellets are a value-added product used in steelmaking.
With this commissioning, NMDC will now be able to better utilize iron ore fines and slimes which were earlier considered as waste or low-value material.
Project Details In Table
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Processing Plant | Located at Bacheli, processes fines and slimes from Bailadila mines |
| Slurry Pipeline | 15 MTPA capacity, 135 km long, connects Bacheli to Nagarnar |
| Pellet Plant | 2 MTPA capacity at Nagarnar, uses Straight Grate Induration technology |
| Total Investment | Rs 5,427 crore |
| Coverage Area | 61 villages in Bastar and Dantewada districts |
What Did NMDC Management Say?
The maiden production from the new pellet plant was monitored live from NMDC's headquarters in Hyderabad by Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee and senior leadership team, as adverse weather conditions prevented them from travelling to the project site.
CMD Amitava Mukherjee said:
"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."