Power Problems Force Drop In Nalco’s Production At Angul Facility

Bhubaneswar: Production of aluminum has been affected at the National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) since September 30 night due to power disruption issues, sources said on Saturday.

At least 80 pots at the company’s smelter at Angul have gone kaput as the company’s power supplies from its captive power plant (CPP) as well as from the state grid have suffered owing to technical snags.

Though the company is yet to issue any official statement in this regard, industry insiders said the losses due to the disruption could be worth crores of rupees. The central PSU has 960 pots divided into four lines at its smelter facility. Of late it has not been functioning to full capacity owing to varied reasons.

“At around 10.50 pm on Wednesday, power supply from the CPP got dusrupted, hitting production,” a company source disclosed. “This forced the company to import 285 mega watt from Gridco (the state’s sole bulk supplier). However, due to subsequent snapping of a feeder line production has dropped. Initially, 57 pots were affected. Gradually it has increased to 80,” the source pointed out.

Industry insiders said poor maintenance and inept managerial staff could be the plausible reasons leading to a situation when the Navratna PSU is compelled to suffer losses.

Odisha Bytes’ attempts to get a company version has so far not yielded any result.