Public sector iron or miner NMDC is in talks to set up a slurry pipeline project in joint venture with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd, Essar Steel, Kudermukh Iron Ore Company Ltd and others. The project entails an investment of ₹ 8,000-9,000 crore and will also include two iron ore pellet plants, a top official of the company said. "The first phase of the project is targeted to be complete by 2018," Narendra Kothari, Chairman and Managing Director of NMDC, said here on Friday. The slurry pipeline will be a 400 km underground pipeline between Bailadila and Vizag.