Bhubaneswar, Sep 28 (IANS): Odisha-run National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO) said it has embarked on growth plans which involve a substantial investment in next three to four years not only in aluminium but also in energy sector.
Chairman Ansuman Das said Saturday evening that it has been pursuing to set up one million tonnes per annum capacity alumina refinery in Gujarat's Kutch district based on supply of bauxite from Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC).
"For this work a detailed project report (DPR) has already been prepared. The project is likely to be taken up as a joint venture. The company is already in talks with GMDC," Das told reporters at company's annual meet here.
NALCO also plans to set up a two lakh tonnes per annum capacity caustic soda plant at Dahej in Gujarat at a cost of Rs.950 crore in joint venture with Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL). A DPR is under review, he said.
It has plans to set up aluminium and its alloy conductors in Odisha for which the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) has been made with the state government. The state government has made principle allocation of 30 acres of land in Angul district, he said.
The company is also exploring the opportunity to set up a greenfield aluminium smelter.
Headquartered in Bhubaneswar, NALCO is India's third largest aluminium maker.
As of now, five countries have been shortlisted considering various factors like shipping distance from India, availability of required quantum of energy and price viability, geo-political scenario, and availability of infrastructure in mind, he said.
The Indian embassies of the identified countries have been approached for necessary data and information. A consultant will be appointed for ascertaining the best possible destination for the project, he said.
Continuing with its self-propelled growth, the company has already completed the up-gradation of fourth stream of alumina refinery in Odisha leading to capacity increase from 21 lakh to 22.75 lakh tonnes per annum and that of bauxite mines from 6.3 million to 6.825 million tonnes per annum at cost of Rs.400 crore, he said.
As part of its green initiatives, the company has also commissioned a 47.6 MW wind power project at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan at the cost of Rs.283 crore.
The first wind power plant of 50.4 MW in Andhra Pradesh was commissioned in 2012-13. About 150 million units of electricity was generated from these two plants in 2013-14, he said.