Shri Dinsha Patel, Minister of Mines informed the Parliamentary Consultative Committee yesterday that it is noteworthy to mention that the National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has recorded the highest ever production of bauxite and alumina in 2012-13, which is also reflected in its highest export earnings.
Outlining the achievements of the Company the Minister said that the Company has integrated bauxite mine, alumina refinery, aluminium smelter, power plant and port facility and is the largest producer of alumina and the third largest producer of aluminium in the country. Apart from consolidating on its core product alumina, with a proposed 1 million tonnes refinery in Gujarat and 5th steam at Damanjodi, the Company is also making all out efforts to commission the allotted Utkal-E coal block, so as to reduce the cost of energy for making aluminium.
The Minister further added that in order to improve sustainability in the scenario of fluctuating aluminium prices, the Company has embarked upon a course of diversification in two different forms of energy, whose demand in the country is steadily increasing.
A new company has been registered for commencement of business in Joint venture with NPCIL. Getting the necessary approval is in process for 26% equity infusion into the Joint venture which will be subsequently enhanced to 49%.
The Minister was pleased that the Company has already commissioned a 50.4 MW wind power plant at Gandikota, Andhra Pradesh. The project activities of a 2nd wind power plant of 47.6 MW capacity is in full swing at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
The Minister said that with a 7% growth of domestic aluminium consumption in last fiscal,steered by growth in power sector, the future of the metal appears promising.
The members who attended the meeting were Shri Amarnath Pradhan from Lok Sabha and Dr. Bhushan Lal Jangde from Rajya Sabha, Shri R. H. Khwaja, Secretary, Mines, Ms. Gauri Kumar, Additional Secretary, Mines, and Senior Officers of the Ministry of Mines and NALCO.
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