The loading of 66,500 tonnes of pellets began at New Mangalore Port yesterday, an official release said here today.
The high-grade iron ore for preparing pellets was procured from Brazil and the company hoped to ship five lakhtonnes to Iran this year, KIOCL chairmanand Managing Director Malay Chatterjee said in the release.
This shipment would enrich the company and the nation withsubstantial foreign exchange, he said.
Chatterjee said KIOCL is strategically located to serve Iran andother steel mills in West Asia that needed high-grade ironpellets.
He said the government was also planning toset up up an anti-terrorist training academy in Kudremukh nearthe city.