The total income during the year has increased to Rs 835.4 crore from Rs 780.16 crore in the 1998-99. Profit before tax stood at Rs 206.64 crore as against Rs 172.22 crore in the previous fiscal.

A company spokesperson, SK Agrawal, said production of iron ore lumps during the year increased to 7.40 million tonnes from 6.08 million tonnes in 1998-99 and production of fines increased to 6.25 million tonnes from 5.56 million tonnes in 1998-99. The total exports, in tonnage terms, of iron ore lumps and fines during 1999-2000 was 3.54 million tonnes and 3.08 million tonnes respectively. Export revenue aggregated Rs 440.44 crore in 1999-2000 which was marginally lower than the Rs 447.02 crore of 1998-99.

Domestic sales of iron ore lump and fines was 3.85 million tonnes and 4.69 million tonnes. Revenue from local sales aggregated Rs 342.97 crore which was substantially higher than the Rs 254.75 crore generated in 1998-99.For 2000-01, NMDC has been able to secure a 4.15 per cent increase in the price of fines and a 5.77 per cent increase in the price of lump over 1999-2000 prices.

NMDC plans to produce 6.93 million tonnes of iron ore lump and 7.36 million tonnes of fines in 2000-01. It plans to export 3.4 million tonnes of lump and 3.10 tonnes of fines in the current year. Local sales of lump and fines are targeted to be 3.52 million tonnes and 5.1 million tonnes respectively.NMDC's Rs 50 crore 6000 tonnes per annum (tpa), ultra pure ferric oxide plant is under commissioning and is likely to go in for full production in June or July 2000. The production target during the current year is around 3000 tonnes. This diversification, plans to give value-addition to the `waste' materials generated in the production process.

The company's state-of-the-art R&D centre, using blue dust, a waste item found in powder form in the iron ore bearing range, has developed three valuable products, which will be manufactured at the Vizag plant.

The three products - ferric oxide (will be widely used in electronics and telecommunications industry); iron powder (finds its place in power metallurgical industry) and pigment grade ferric oxide (used in paint industry) have got a potential and wide market base in India.

NMDC is also implementing Deposit 10 and 11A project in the Bailadila region for a capacity of five million tonnes of run-of-mine (ROM) per annum with a saleable product of 4.5 million tpa. This project is likely to be commissioned in July 2002. The company is also planning to commission first phase of Kumaraswamy mine in Bellary-Hospet region to produce three million tonnes of ROM annually which is likely to be commissioned in 2003-04.

Additionally, blue dust mining at Deposit 14 for production of 1.5 million tpa is likely to be commissioned by 2003-04. The total production capacity of iron ore during the 2004-05 is expected to touch 23.45 million tonnes. All investments for the new projects are to be met from internal resources.