Utkal Alumina updates on its recently approved expansion plans

The High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), the highest body to approve investment proposals, has approved seven projects with investments totaling to INR 41,900 crore. The projects that got the HLCA's nod include a mix of new as well as existing projects that proposed to ramp up their capacities.

Among the expansion projects, the HLCA cleared proposal by Aditya Birla Group owned Utkal Alumina Ltd.

Utkal Alumina has proposed to ramp up its alumina refinery capacity at Rayagada in south Odisha from one million tonne per annum (mtpa) to 1.5 mtpa and that of its captive power plant (CPP) from 50 Mw to 90 Mw. The total cost of the refinery is estimated at INR 7,563 crore.

Another important project that got HLCA's approval is a power generation plant by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. MCL, a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL), has decided to foray into power generation through 1,600 Mw (2x800) pit-head power plant. The plant would be put up by Mahanadi Basin Power Ltd, a fully owned MCL subsidiary at an investment of INR 8,000 crore. The power project that got HLCA's nod, is coming up at a site close to MCL's Basundhara coal mines in Sundargarh district.