NMDC has commissioned a ₹5,427‑crore integrated project that includes a 2 million‑tonne‑per‑annum pellet plant at Nagarnar, a new iron‑ore processing plant at Bacheli and a 135‑km slurry pipeline. The pipeline, capable of moving 15 MTPA of processed concentrate, links Bacheli with Nagarnar, offering an alternative to road and rail evacuation of ore. The project expands NMDC’s iron‑ore value chain.

The new processing facility at Bacheli will convert iron‑ore fines and slimes from the Bailadila mines into concentrate, which is then transported via the slurry pipeline to the pellet plant. The pellet plant uses Straight Grate Induration technology to manufacture pellets for use in steelmaking. By integrating beneficiation, slurry transport and pellet production, NMDC can utilise more of the fines and slimes that were previously under‑utilised, thereby adding a value‑added product to its portfolio.

The 135‑km slurry pipeline traverses 61 villages in Bastar and Dantewada districts, providing a dedicated link between NMDC’s Bacheli operations and its steel plant at Nagarnar. By reducing the movement of processed ore by road, the pipeline offers an alternative evacuation route and lowers the company’s dependence on railway transportation. The infrastructure is expected to streamline logistics and improve the efficiency of ore delivery to the pellet plant.

NMDC Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee described the commissioning as a 'day of immense pride' and a 'red‑letter day' that fulfils a long‑awaited collective dream. He highlighted that the project was not easy to execute, involving multiple facilities – the processing plant, the slurry pipeline and the pellet plant – and that its completion marks a milestone in the company’s expansion across the iron‑ore value chain.

The integrated project, valued at ₹5,427 crore, brings together mining, beneficiation, slurry transportation and pellet production under one umbrella. By converting fines and slimes into high‑quality pellets, NMDC enhances its product mix and reduces reliance on external suppliers. The new infrastructure provides a dedicated link between Bacheli and Nagarnar, reducing the movement of processed ore by road and offering an alternative evacuation route.