ATHENS--Indian bauxite production is seen rising to 35 million metric tons a year by 2012-2013, from around 12.3 million tons currently, Prasanna Panda, vice president mining at Vedanta Alumina Ltd. said Wednesday.
This is to keep pace with the demands of a number of new greenfield alumina refinery projects, he told Metal Bulletin's 13th bauxite and alumina conference in Athens.
"Once this has been completed, there's a very important plan for further expansion on the cards," he said.
"The new greenfield refineries have ambitious plans to double capacities once the first phase of their construction is completed," Panda said. "This could take bauxite production to around 54 million tons by 2015-2016," Panda added.
There are currently 189 operating bauxite mines in India, of which 28 mines account for 85% of total production.
One mine, Panchpatmali in Orissa state, accounts for about 40% of India's bauxite production. This mine is owned by India's National Aluminium Co. (532234.BY), or Nalco.
Major mine capacity expansions already planned include at Nalco's Panchpatmali, Vedanta's Lanjigarh and at Utkal Alumina Ltd's Baphilimali mine.
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