NMDC accelerates digitalisation and sustainable mining to support 100 MTPA vision
New Delhi, June 20
NMDC is accelerating digital transformation, sustainable mining practices and capacity expansion at its Donimalai complex in Karnataka as part of its long-term strategy to become a 100 million tonne per annum mining company, the Ministry of Steel said on Saturday.
During the visit to the complex, the company's senior management reviewed key projects aimed at boosting production, improving resource efficiency and strengthening environmental stewardship.
The review focused on ongoing capacity expansion and infrastructure development projects designed to increase production from the Kumaraswamy Mine to 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and raise the overall production capacity of the Donimalai Complex to 17 MTPA. These expansion plans form a crucial part of NMDC's broader vision of becoming a 100 MTPA mining company.
Senior officials also reviewed initiatives aimed at utilising iron ore resources containing up to 35 per cent Fe, along with iron ore slimes and low-grade iron-bearing materials such as Banded Hematite Jasper (BHJ) and Banded Hematite Quartzite (BHQ). These materials have traditionally remained underutilized despite containing significant iron content.
Through beneficiation and scientific mineral processing techniques, NMDC is converting these low-grade resources into valuable raw materials, enabling the recovery of additional iron ore from existing mines while reducing waste generation. The initiative is expected to strengthen mineral conservation, lower the environmental footprint of mining activities and support the growing raw material requirements of India's steel industry.
The management team also reviewed the recently implemented automated gate management system at the Kumaraswamy Mine. The digital system enables real-time monitoring and verification of iron ore dispatches, improving transparency and operational efficiency.
According to the company, the automated system reduces manual intervention, enhances oversight of material movement and ensures secure transportation of mineral resources to their intended destinations.
The initiatives undertaken at Donimalai reflect NMDC's continued focus on digitalisation, resource efficiency and responsible mining as the company advances toward its long-term production and sustainability goals.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, our PSUs are waking up to modern tech! The automated gate system will reduce theft and corruption in dispatches. But I hope they also focus on rehabilitating displaced families near Donimalai - that's often forgotten in expansion talks.
Mining 35% Fe ore through beneficiation is a game-changer for India's self-reliance in steel. We have so much low-grade iron ore lying idle. This will reduce import dependency and create jobs in Karnataka. Well done, NMDC! 🌟
Impressive digitalisation in mining - the gate management system sounds like blockchain-level transparency. But I wonder about the environmental impact of scaling up to 100 MTPA. Hope they're reforesting the mined areas too. 🤔
As a metallurgist, I appreciate this approach! BHJ and BHQ are notoriously hard to process. Using scientific techniques to recover iron from these wastes is brilliant for both economics and environment. This is what 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in mining looks like! ✨
Good steps, but I'm concerned about water usage for beneficiation. Karnataka already faces water scarcity. They should implement zero liquid discharge systems. Also, the 17 MTPA target for Donimalai needs proper railway connectivity - the current lines are congested.
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