JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – After six years spent developing and refining an India-focused iron-ore strategy, along with the requisite beneficiation technologies, ASX-listed NSL Consolidated has cemented its ties with India’s State-owned Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) through a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The MoU, signed between the parties this week, would see collaboration on mining, beneficiation and value addition of low-grade iron-ore from the iron-ore developer’s Andhra Pradesh operation.
“The scope of the MoU is to define a collaboration between the company and Andhra Pradesh whereby the company will work with APMDC in the reconnaissance and exploration for minerals in the State,” NSL MD Cedric Goode said of the agreement that would allow the Perth-based company to expand its operational base in the region.
Further, NSL would commission a process flow and technology able to beneficiate ore with iron content as low as 27%, which was unsuitable for the steel industry, to a saleable concentrate of between 60% and 62% iron, which is ideal for the Indian domestic steel industry.
The company would provide testing, process flow development and technology for the setting up of value addition beneficiation and pellet plants for low-grade iron-ore – a key enabler to unlock the vast low-grade mineral wealth.
In March, NSL signed an offtake agreement for 200 000 t of existing Phase 1 dry beneficiation plant lump product. This followed a February offtake deal for the first 200 000 t of future Phase 2 wet beneficiation plant fines product.