The mining major invested Rs 150 crore in the past 5 years towards research and development (R&D)
Team News Riveting
Hyderabad, June 18
India’s largest iron ore producer, NMDC, today, unveiled its new state- of-the-art Research and Development (R&D) Center in Patancheru, Hyderabad to advance innovation in mineral processing and sustainable steel technology.
The Navratna company has made strategic investments of over Rs. 150 crore for research and development in the past 5 years and Rs 50 crore towards building the new R&D Centre.
Spanning across eight acres in Patancheru, this leading-edge facility was inaugurated by Amitava
Mukherjee, CMD (Additional Charge), NMDC accompanied by Dilip Kumar Mohanty, Director
(Production); Vinay Kumar, Director (Technical); B. Vishwanath, CVO and senior officers
from NMDC.
Contributing to the field of mineral processing since 1970, NMDC R&D has been recognized as a
Centre of Excellence by both UNIDO and DSIR for its knowledge and technology transfer to the
domestic and global industry. The R&D Centre houses cutting-edge laboratories that foster innovation
in sustainable mineral technology and ore beneficiation, manned by a team of experts.
The newly inaugurated NMDC R&D Centre boasts an array of sophisticated instruments, including an
automated mineral analyser and automated fusion bead-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyser,
ensuring precise and efficient characterization of various minerals. The Centre features a dedicated
facility for pelletization studies, which will generate crucial data for the installation of commercial
pellet plants. This will not only enhance NMDC’s in-house requirements and capabilities but will also
benefit the sector by providing valuable insights into mineral processing and pellet production.
Inaugurating the new R&D facility, Amitava Mukherjee, CMD, NMDC, said, “Embracing our
responsibility to innovate and lead the Indian Mining Industry towards a sustainable future through
research and development, we open the doors to NMDC’s new state-of-the-art R&D Center. As we
stride forward to innovate and inspire, we are not just investing in research here, we are investing in
India’s Future.”
This facility is a decisive step towards driving the digital transformation of India’s largest iron ore
producer and will further reinforce its commitment to Responsible Mining by building an ecosystem
that is sustainable at its core. One of the unique aspects of the new R&D Centre is the hydrogen reduction facility, integrated with a microwave-assisted heating furnace. This innovative setup will play a vital role in the development of green steel-making technologies, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices in the steel industry.
Equipped with latest technology and infrastructure, the Centre has an expertise in Mineralogical
Characterization, Elemental Analysis, Bulk Materials Handling and Storage, Mineral Processing, Coal
and Coke Characterization.
At the forefront of innovation, the Centre will serve as a hub for collaboration with leading academic
institutions and industry experts to become the nerve centre of the industry. The NMDC R&D Centre
is poised to support industry players from both corporate and public sectors to make game changing
interventions in maximizing mineral recovery and ensuring mineral security for India.
