Australia-based iron ore developer NSL Consolidated (NSL) has announced that it has completed commissioning of its Kurnool dry separation iron ore plant in India, achieving another significant milestone in its transition to producer status.
NSL is expecting a gradual ramp up in production and sales tonnages towards the targeted Phase 1 production capacity of 200,000 mt per annum during the September quarter.
Additionally, NSL has received a number of expressions of interest from local steel mills in regard to off-take agreements for Kurnool iron ore. Kurnool represents an attractive iron ore supply solution for these steel mills due to its close proximity. NSL is currently negotiating potential agreements.
The Phase 1 Kurnool iron production is expected to achieve a consistent grade of 54-58 percent iron. The Phase 2 wet beneficiation plant for Kurnool, capable of producing final product grades of between 58-62 percent Fe, is anticipated to be brought into operation later in 2012 with completion and anticipated sales in the first half of 2013. This is targeted to increase production capacity by an additional 200,000 mt per year to a total of 400,000 mt per year from Kurnool.