Bhubaneswar, Mar 22 (IANS): State-run National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) Monday said a pilot project on carbon sequestration will be implemented at its captive power plant at Angul in Orissa.

Sidhanta Das, member-secretary of the state pollution control board (SPCB), laid the foundation stone of the proposed project Monday at the captive power plant, about 60 km from here, the company said in a statement.

NALCO has become the first public sector undertaking in India to implement a pilot-cum-demonstration project on carbon sequestration, the statement said.

Carbon sequestration is a method for managing and storing of carbon dioxide (CO2) or other forms of carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere by burning carbon-based fuels.

It is a relatively new idea brought about by the worldwide concern that high concentrations of atmospheric CO2 contribute to global warming.

Nalco has earmarked an area of 0.18 acre for the project which will be completed within 18 months. The company however did not reveal the amount it planned to spend on the project.

The company also said it has engaged Indo-Can Technology Solutions (ICTS), a biotechnology firm, for providing technical consultancy and rendering necessary services.