Date: 27th September 2026

Operational Update

NMDC Limited has commissioned a major integrated project comprising three key components:

  • 2 million tonne per annum (MTPA) pellet plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh
  • New iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, Chhattisgarh
  • 15 MTPA slurry pipeline connecting Bacheli to Nagarnar

Project Details

Total Investment: ₹5,427 crore

Pipeline Specifications:

  • Length: 135 kilometers
  • Capacity: 15 MTPA
  • Route: Passes through 61 villages in Bastar and Dantewada districts
  • Purpose: Carries processed iron ore concentrate from Bacheli to Nagarnar

Pellet Plant Capacity: 2 MTPA using Straight Grate Induration technology

Strategic Significance

The integrated facilities enable NMDC to:

  • Process iron ore fines and slimes from Bailadila mines into concentrate
  • Convert concentrate into pellets for steelmaking
  • Provide alternative transportation to road movement of processed ore
  • Reduce dependency on Railways for evacuation
  • Ensure dedicated link between Bacheli operations and Nagarnar steel plant
  • Add value-added product to company portfolio
  • Strengthen presence across iron ore value chain (mining, beneficiation, slurry transportation, pellet production)

Commissioning Event

The maiden production from the pellet plant was monitored live from NMDC's headquarters on September 27, 2026, due to adverse weather conditions preventing travel to the project site. The monitoring was conducted by Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee and the company's senior leadership.

Management Commentary

Amitava Mukherjee, Chairman and Managing Director, stated: "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."

Long-term Strategy

The project is 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.

Environmental and Logistics Benefits

The slurry pipeline is designed to:

  • Reduce movement of processed ore by road
  • Provide alternate mode of evacuation
  • Lower dependency on Railways
  • Ensure dedicated link between Bacheli operations and Nagarnar