Nalco to invest Rs. 7000 crore to Rs. 12000 crore for alumina refinery in Vishakapatnam

Odisha-based Asia’s largest integrated aluminium complex National Aluminium Company’s (Nalco) business expansion is on a roll. It is ready to invest INR 7000 crore to INR 12000 crore to set up a 1.4 million tonne or 2 million tonne alumina refinery in Vishakapatnam, as disclosed in an exclusive interview to The Hindu.

Nalco Chairman and Managing Director Tapan Kumar Chand said on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, that for setting up an alumina refinery, the company requested the Centre to consider allotment of bauxite mines. Nalco is in the process of acquiring a new block at Pottangi located on the Andhra-Odisha border. It also has bauxite ore blocks at Panchapatmali in Koraput district of neighbouring Odisha.

Mr. Chand said nobody would oppose investment by Nalco as it is in the public sector with a proven track record for development and robust CSR activity in Odisha. While admitting that they had received requests from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh for investment in their respective States, he pointed out that their first priority would be Andhra Pradesh due to the distinctive advantage of its proximity to their projects in Odisha.

Besides, the company is also expanding its alumina refinery at Damonjodi in Koraput district from 2.1 million tonne to 3.1 million tonne with an estimated investment of INR 5540 crore. It is expected to be to initiate operation by 2021.