NMDC ltd will soon commence the process for selecting a Mine Developer and Operator for development and operation of Bailadila iron ore Deposit number 13 in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, official sources informed.

Notably, the company has made a capital expenditure of Rs 4.76 crore as on September 2016 for development of its Bailadila iron ore mines in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh during the current financial year, officials informed.

The company is now going for construction of the 5th iron ore screening line at its existing screening plant number 2 at Bailadila Iron Ore Mine at Kirandul complex in Dantewada district of Bastar region.

It has also commenced the process for setting up the 2 MTPA ‘iron ore processing plant’ at Bacheli in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, officials informed.

The tender for site levelling work had already been floated for setting up the project, they informed.

It may also be recalled that NMDC has proposed to use its mine lease area at Deposit number 4 located at Bailadila range of hills at Bhansi near Bacheli in South Bastar’s Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh for meeting the raw material requirement 'exclusively' for its upcoming 3 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant at Nagarnar, officials informed.

The remaining iron ore quantity after meeting the requirement of integrated steel plant at Nagarnar from  Deposit 4 will be sold to domestic customers in Chhattisgarh, they informed.

The Deposit - 4 iron ore mine will be developed as a 'standalone project' with an estimated investment of Rs 1899.74 crores.

Notably, NMDC proposes for mining the Deposit number 4 iron ore mine with a production capacity of 7.0 MTPA in the mine lease area of 646.596 hectares.

Notably, NMDC's  iron ore requirement for the steel plant would be 5 MTPA.

The exploration work was done at Bailadila Deposit No. 4 by NMDC in the year back in 1972-74. The ore reserves were proved by detailed exploration activities.

The Deposit 4 has  a production capacity of 7.0 MTPA and spread in a mining lease area of 646.596 hectares.

In addition to the mining lease area, 95.13 hectares forest land is identified for development of infrastructure such as downhill conveyor, screening plant, loading plant and approach road etc.

Further, 50 hectares of non-forest land is also required for installation of railway stock yard, administrative building, loading plant (part), tailing dam, STP and township etc.

The existing iron ore production from other Bailadila mines is catering to requirements of large steel plants and also to local sponge iron / pellet plants in Chhattisgarh.

Mining plan along with progressive mine closure plan has been approved by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), for production capacity of 7.0 MTPA vide their letter no: No 314(3)/2012-MCCM (CZ)/MP-19 dated July 26, 2013, officials informed.

NMDC is operating iron ore mines at Bailadila Complex in South Bastar Dantewada District Chhattisgarh and is having long terms commitment for supply of iron ore to major steel plants across the country.

Hence, J.V. Company between NMDC and Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC)  i.e NMDC-CMDC (NCl) was formed for development of a new deposit in the already prospected areas i.e Bailadila Deposit-4 with a production capacity of 7 MTPA for meeting the iron ore requirement of Steel plant of NMDC at Nagarnar, near Jagdalpur.

It may be also be recalled that NMDC ltd is going for a complete Energy Audit for Bailadila Iron Ore Mine at Deposit 14 and 11C at Kirandul complex and Deposit 5, 10 and 11A at Bacheli Complex in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

The company is also planning to construct  a 'rapid iron ore loading system' with a capacity of 14 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at its Kirandul complex in Bastar , officials informed.

Adding yet another feather to its cap, NMDC’s Bailadila Iron ore Mine at Bacheli Complex in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh has bagged the prestigious ‘FIMI Golden Jubilee Award for Excellence’.

On the basis of best practices adopted, improvement over the last 10 years, excellence in environment management, social awareness, health and safety, overall mine performance and exemplary Reclamation & Rehabilitation (R&R) efforts by Bailadila Iron Ore Mine at Bacheli Complex, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industry (FIMI) has awarded NMDC’s flagship mine for this One Time Special Award, a company press release informed.

The award was presented by Union Minister for State (Independent charge) for Mines, Power, Coal, New & Renewable energy Piyush Goyal and received by Executive Director & Project Head of BIOM-Bacheli Complex, NMDC limited Arun Kumar Shukla, on October 3 during the 50th Annual General Body meeting of FIMI at New Delhi.

It is pertinent to mention that having stiff competition for this onetime special award, FIMI had shortlisted BIOM Bacheli Complex of NMDC limited, Noamundi Iron Ore Mine of Tata Steel and Ultratech limestone Mine of Aditya Birla Group and based on the mine site assessment by the committee and presentation on environment, CSR, social awareness, health and safety, overall mine performance and exemplary Reclamation & Rehabilitation (R&R) efforts, the Jury Committee adjudged BIOM Bacheli Complex for “FIMI Golden Jubilee Award for Excellence 2015-16”, it stated.

Notably, the Bailadila Iron Ore Mine, Bacheli Complex, a unit of NMDC limited, a Navaratna Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Steel is located in the remote district of Dantewada (South Bastar) of Chhattisgarh State, is a highly mechanised open cast iron ore mine having annual production capacity of 14 MTPA with daily loading capacity of 60000 tonnes.

The mine is accredited with ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2008 and SA 8000:2008 certifications.

NMDC has been continuously working towards sustainable development and installed Sewage Treatment Plant with SBR Technology at Bacheli, the press release informed.

The Company has undertaken Green House Gas (GHG) Assessment and disclosure of carbon emissions and has made significant contribution to the tribal belt of Bastar by making its presence since 1964 by opening of iron ore mine at Bailadila region.

NMDC is running ITI at Bhansi, Polytechnic College at Geedam (Dantewada district), it informed.

It has also set up and is operating one of the world-class Education Hub at Jawanga  in Dantewada district and has been in the forefront in extending support to the local people especially in the areas of education, Medicare and infrastructure development, it informed.