Pottangi bauxite mines pre-project ventures advancing, says Nalco CMD

On 30th October 2021, Sridhar Patra, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Nalco stated that the pre-project ventures like securing green clearance for the execution of the mining lease of Pottangi bauxite mines in Koraput district of Odisha and construction of an 18-km overland conveyor are advancing.

The CMD in his speech at the 40th AGM of the company said: “Pottangi bauxite mines have been reserved by the Centre in favour of Nalco for meeting the bauxite requirement of its one million tonnes alumina refinery expansion project.”

He added: "The mining plan has already been approved. Important milestones like preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) report, the conduct of a public hearing, identification of compensatory afforestation land for diversion of forest land and engagement of consultant for selection of technology of overland conveyor have already been completed.”

Patra further commented that Nalco is in the procedure of establishing the fifth stream in its existing alumina refinery that will append one million tonnes per year (MTPY) to its existing regular production capacity of 2.1 MTPY (total capacity 3.1 MTPY), at a projected expenditure of INR 6,435.90 crore at December 2018 price level.

"This 5th stream expansion is based on improved Medium Pressure Digestion technology of Rio Tinto Alcan International Ltd (RTAIL) which is cost-effective," he concluded by saying.