NALCO plans Rs 30,000 cr investment

Besides, the company will spend over Rs 7,000 crore on the 5th stream refinery, Pottangi bauxite mines, bauxite transportation system from south block & Utkal D & E coal mines.

New Delhi: State-owned NALCO will invest around Rs 30,000 crore over the next 7-8 years on its expansion and diversification, Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday said.

NALCO’s growth plans will “contribute significantly” to government’s self-reliance vision in terms of production and consumption of alumina and aluminium in the country, the minister said.

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“NALCO will invest around Rs 30,000 crore by financial year 2027-28 on the company’s expansion and diversification plans,” he said while addressing the 41st Foundation Day of National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) at the company’s headquarters in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Of the proposed investment, Rs 22,000 crore will be spent on smelter and captive power plant (CPP) expansions, which also include expansion of the company’s smelter plant at Angul district in Odisha with construction of a 1400 MW feeder CPP.

Besides, the company will spend over Rs 7,000 crore on the 5th stream refinery, Pottangi bauxite mines, bauxite transportation system from south block & Utkal D & E coal mines. “With the ambitious growth plans that NALCO has for the future, it will contribute significantly to the alumina and aluminium sectors having a multiplier effect in the production and consumption of this strategic metal and achieve ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision under the stellar leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Joshi said.

He also said that the central government is extending all round support to the mineral rich state Odisha to avoid any interruption in the mineral production of the country. Joshi said that in view of the requests made by the state government, the Centre will amend concerned rules so that smooth production of minerals could be ensured and non-serious players barred from participating in mineral block auctions.

“Especially to expedite iron ore production in Odisha, we have approved the proposals to allot two iron ore mining blocks to Odisha Mineral Corporation and one block to Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd on the request of the state,” Joshi said.

An MoU has also been signed between Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (OMECL) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) for exploration of mineral blocks of OMECL. This will unleash the mineral potential in the state thorough extensive surveys and exploration.

Moreover, in order to expedite the auction of mineral blocks in Odisha, relaxation in norms is also being considered. Notably, an auction regime was introduced by the Ministry of Mines for allotment of mineral blocks in India through an amendment made in the MMDR Act in 2015.

Joshi said that NALCO, in association with the Government of Odisha is also setting up a world class Aluminium Park in Angul, in close proximity to its smelter plant to encourage development of downstream and ancillary industries in the state of Odisha. This will enhance employment in the area and give boost to local entrepreneurship, he said.