New Delhi, Mar 19 (KNN) National Mineral Development Corporation, NMDC Ltd, the country’s largest iron ore producer, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT Kharagpur for drone-based mineral exploration.

NMDC would be the first Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in India to conduct drone-based geophysical surveys and hyperspectral studies for mineral exploration in the country.

The collaboration would further lead to the development of software spectral tools for mineral excavation and capacity-building programs on mining technology

NMDC and IIT Kharagpur would develop spectral products, methods and algorithms for exploration using drones for mining. 

The collaboration would further lead to the development of software spectral tools for mineral excavation and capacity-building programs on mining technology.

The Company is producing about 35 million tonnes per annum of iron ore from its major iron producing units i.e. from Bailadila Sector in Chhattisgarh and Donimalai in Bellary-Hospet region in Karnataka. 

NMDC envisages to have an iron ore production capacity of 100 million tonnes by FY30.

NMDC has been exploring minerals for six decades for a wide range of minerals such as copper, rock phosphate, limestone, magnesite, diamond, tungsten and beach sands amongst others right from the reconnaissance G4 level to the detailed G1 level of United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC). (KNN Bureau)