NMDC to add 13 million tonnes of iron ore production capacity in 3 years

National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) is planning to increase domestic production of iron ore from the present level of around 27 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 40 MTPA by the year 2014-15, minister of steel Beni Prasad Verma has said.

He said NMDC has already taken steps to increase iron ore production at the Kirandul and Bacheli complex in Bailadila, Chhattisgarh to 32.5 MTPA and production at the Donimalai and Kumarswamy mines in Donimalai, in Karnataka, to 7.5 MTPA.

NMDC has also formed a joint venture company with the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) to develop two mines - Deposit 13 and Deposit 4 - in Bailadila sector, with 10 MTPA and 7 MTPA iron ore, respectively, he said.

Meanwhile, NMDC and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up a pipeline for transporting iron ore concentrate from Jagadalpur, Chhattisgarh to Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and setting up filtration plant and pellet plant at Visakhapatnam. A working group comprising representatives from NMDC and RINL has been formed for taking necessary action in this regard, the minister said.

Iron ore production in the country feel from 218.55 million tonnes in 2009-10 to 208.00 million tonnes in 2010-11 and further to 169.66 million tonnes in 2011-12 against domestic consumption of 90.62 million tonnes, 11.40 million tonnes and 116.30 million tonnes, repectively, for the tree years.

India exported 117.37 million tonnes, 97.66 million tonnes and 61.80 million tonnes of iron ore, worth Rs41,794.85 crore, Rs41295.86 crore, respectively, during 2009-10 and 2010-11 financial years, Verma pointed out. Figures for 2011-12 are not available at present, he said.