Low-grade iron ore, meaning ore with an iron content of less than 63 per cent, is termed ‘fines’. Till recently, around 100 million tonnes of these were exported in a year, the bulk to China. The domestic steel making industry prefers not to use this variety.
With the restrictions, steel and mining majors such as JSW Steel, Essar Steel, Ispat Industries and NMDC have decided to invest in making pellets to feel steel plants. Their combined plans total Rs 8,000 crore in the next four years, to establish pelletisation capacity of 40 million tonnes a year.
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