Adani, NMDC & Vale Forge Global Iron Ore Hub at India’s Gangavaram Port

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Ltd, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NMDC Ltd and Vale SA to develop an integrated iron ore blending hub and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Gangavaram Port.

Key Highlights

• Partnership: APSEZ (Adani), NMDC (India’s largest iron ore producer), and Vale SA (Brazilian mining giant).
• Location: Gangavaram Port, Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Objective: Establish a blending facility and SEZ ecosystem for iron ore value addition, commercialization, and exports.
• Strategic Importance:
  • Enhances India’s East Coast iron ore export capacity.
  • Positions Gangavaram Port as a major hub capable of handling Valemax vessels (the world’s largest bulk carriers).
  • Strengthens India–Brazil trade ties, with the MoU signed during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to India.
• Economic Impact: Expected to boost efficiency, global competitiveness, and create a robust supply chain for iron ore exports.

This move is significant because it integrates India’s domestic iron ore production (via NMDC) with Vale’s global supply, leveraging Adani’s port infrastructure to create a competitive export hub.

This Adani–NMDC–Vale MoU at Gangavaram Port could reshape India’s steel industry and global trade flows in significant ways. For India’s steelmakers, the partnership ensures a stable supply of high-grade ore by blending Vale’s premium output with NMDC’s domestic production. This consistency in quality is vital for efficient steelmaking, helping reduce impurities, lower energy consumption in blast furnaces, and ultimately cut production costs. The creation of a Special Economic Zone around the hub is also expected to attract pellet plants, beneficiation units, and downstream steel processing facilities, strengthening India’s steel value chain.

On the global stage, Gangavaram Port’s ability to handle Valemax vessels—among the largest bulk carriers in the world—positions India as a direct link to Brazil and other international markets. This deepens the India–Brazil trade corridor, diversifies India’s raw material sources beyond traditional suppliers like Australia, and enhances export competitiveness. By blending and re-exporting ore, India could emerge as a hub for global iron ore trade, serving East Asian markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea more efficiently.

Strategically, the move supports India’s ambition to become a global steel powerhouse in line with its National Steel Policy targets. It also expands Adani’s role in commodities logistics, moving beyond port operations into integrated resource management. Most importantly, it builds resilience into supply chains at a time when geopolitical uncertainties and commodity market fluctuations demand stronger, more reliable trade networks.

NMDC Committed to fight COVID 19 for a safe and healthy India

Keeping in view the prevalence of Covid-19 and the guidelines issued by the Government of India, NMDC is implementing various preventive measures at the headquarters, plants and offices to protect the employees and their families against the spread of CORONA virus (COVID-19).

The NMDC family (Employees, stakeholders and their family members) have been requested to observe ‘Janata Curfew’ on 22nd March as suggested by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.



For the 5500 employees and 20,000+ NMDC family members, good health is the primary concern. NMDC has implemented the preventive measures in office premises like thermal screening of temperature of all employees at the entrance, provided masks to sanitation and security personnel & usage of sanitizers, restriction on entry of visitors, massive awareness campaigns using visual communications like display of banners, posters, hoardings, electronic boards etc. at offices and plants premises in headquarters, Bailadila iron ore mines, Steel Plant at Nagarnar (Chhattisgarh), Donimalai iron ore mines and plant (Karnataka) and Diamond Mining Project (Panna in Madhya Pradesh). We are also focused on disinfecting and sanitizing the work stations, washrooms and pantry spaces at regular intervals. Prolonged chronic treatment employees, pregnant ladies and those employees vulnerable to contagious diseases have been given work from home permission.

NMDC is also promoting social distancing among employees and they are being advised to have their breakfast/ lunch/ tea at their own tables for the next few weeks. The gyms and sport rooms will not be operational till further instructions.

As instructed by the Government of India, the working hours of all employees are being staggered, so that to avoid mass gatherings at the time of reporting and closing of duty. NMDC has also drafted daily & weekly roaster for employees. All meetings are being avoided and if required, meetings are conducted by web or video conference.

All the apprentices and trainees have been given paid leave, employees are advised not to travel outside their headquarters, and all employees have been advised not to travel either domestic or international.

NMDC at all its offices, mines, townships and nearby villages distributed pamphlets on do’s & don’ts and disinfectant soaps to each and every household; where in more than 20,000 families were covered. Public awareness created by mobile vehicle announcements in townships and nearby villages.

The Senior Management is taking regular review of the precautionary measures taken up for preventing COVID-19.

NMDC, IIT Hyderabad's Joint Incubation Prog to Support Deep-Tech Start-Ups

State-run NMDC and i-TIC Foundation, IIT Hyderabad on Monday signed an agreement to support start-ups through a collaborative joint incubation programme, the NMDC Innovation and Incubation Centre (NICE).

As part of the Centres "Startup India" initiative, the collaborative agreement was signed by P KSatpathy, Director (Production) NMDC and B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad and President, i-TIC Foundation in the presence ofN Baijendra Kumar, CMD of NMDCat the NMDC headquarters here, a press
release said.

NMDC in partnership with i-TIC Foundation, IIT Hyderabad would establish the start-up eco system in the
premises of IIT Hyderabad with a focus to foster, nurture and incubate start-up companies with new and innovative ideas in deep technology.

NMDC would contribute tentatively Rs 10 crore for the five year joint incubation program and intends to support at least 15 start-ups, it said.

The objective of NICE is to promote the spirit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the country.

Baijendra Kumar said "the programme aims to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across pan India by converting and translating technological ideas and innovation in various disciplines of science and engineering into products, processes and services for commercial exploitation and the benefit of society". PTI VVK