Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 20: NMDC is working on strategies to raise its iron ore production to 60 million tonnes (MT) this fiscal to meet growing demand from domestic steelmakers, chairman Amitava Mukherjee said.
The country’s largest iron ore producer crossed the 50 MT production milestone in FY26 and is now implementing a production ramp-up plan to reach 60 MTPA from its existing mines, along with assets of its joint venture NMDC-CMDC Limited (NCL).
Mukherjee said the targeted production would represent an increase of around 20 per cent year-on-year. The company has also applied for environmental clearances for some deposits with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
NMDC is targeting 100 MT of iron ore production by 2030-31, in line with the National Steel Policy 2017, which envisages domestic steelmaking capacity of 300 MT by the same period. Mukherjee said the company was on track to achieve the 100 MT target.
Mine-related infrastructure is being developed at several locations, while some facilities are already operational. To enhance the capacity of existing mines, NMDC has invited bids for infrastructure development, including belt conveying systems, crushers and breakers.
NMDC operates four major mechanised iron ore mining complexes in Chhattisgarh’s Bailadila sector and Karnataka’s Donimalai sector. The Hyderabad-based company, under the Ministry of Steel, caters to around 20 per cent of the country’s iron ore requirement.
The company reported a 33 per cent rise in total revenue to an all-time high of Rs 31,554 crore in FY26, compared with Rs 23,668 crore in FY25.
As part of its diversification strategy, NMDC is set to commence commercial production of thermal coal during the October-December quarter and aims to sell around 1 MT of the fuel in FY27. It also plans to develop a coking coal mine in FY27, with production targeted as early as FY28.
Mukherjee said NMDC aims to derive at least 20 per cent of its revenue from minerals other than iron ore by 2030.