Nalco Expansion Project In Odisha On Priority Of Centre: Union Mines Minister

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi has said the brownfield expansion project of Nalco for its aluminium smelter plant in Angul district of Odisha is on the priority of the Central government.

Replying to a letter of Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in this regard, Joshi said there is no change in the Nalco projects. The preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) is underway and the Ministry of Mines is taking all steps for implementation of the project to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

Pradhan, in his letter, had stated that the Nalco is undertaking the project for increasing its capacity from 0.46 MTPA to 1 MTPA which includes a 1400-MW feeder captive power plant with an estimated budget of Rs 22,000 crore.

Stating that Nalco’s bauxite production capacity will increase from 7.3 MTPA to 10.5 MTPA with operationalisation of Pottangi mines, Pradhan said out of this, upto 3.1 MTPA consists of alumina which can produce around 1.5 MTPA aluminium. The project heavily depends on affordable coal supply to the 1400 MW feeder plant for uninterrupted power.

Considering, the potential of the project for economic improvement of the area and its people, Pradhan proposed commissioning of the feeder plant.