Efficient iron ore evacuation key to achieving target of 300 MTPA of steel by 2030-31: NMDC



Source: THE HINDU BUSINESSLINE

In order to achieve the projected target of 300 million tonnes per annum of steel by 2030-31 under the National Steel Policy, NMDC has said the country needs to develop a more efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly iron ore evacuation infrastructure, including slurry pipelines.

NMDC’s presentations about iron ore transportation and complications of reserve estimation were appreciated by the mining fraternity at the 25th World Mining Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Narendra K Nanda, Director (Technical) and P.K. Satpathy, Director (Production) presented technical papers on ‘Alternate Transport System for Indian Iron Ore Mining Industry’ and ‘Reserve Estimation Complications in a Heterogeneous Iron Ore Body and its Mitigation’ respectively.

Nanda said India’s National Steel Policy aims at enhancing steel production to 300 MTPA by 2030-31, for which the projected requirement of iron ore was around 437 MTPA, which calls for thrust on evacuation of iron ore from the mines to the steel plant in a cost-effective, safe and environmental-friendly manner.

He emphasised on the advantages of evacuation of iron ore fines through a slurry pipeline as against the present conventional evacuation methods through Railways, road and ports.

Beneficiation

With increased fines ratio and depleting quality, beneficiation and agglomeration was the way forward for the Indian steel industry. Low-cost transportation modes for effective and environment-friendly ways should be adopted.

The details of NMDC’s initiative for laying of a slurry pipeline from its Bailadila mines to Visakhapatnam were also part of the presentation at the World Mining Congress.

Source: THE HINDU BUSINESSLINE