Nalco planning to set aluminum and power plants for Rs 14,000 crore in Orrisa

India’s National Aluminium Company (Nalco) is exploring the possibility of setting up an aluminium smelter and power plant near Jharsuguda, western Orissa for over Rs 14,000 crore. The smelter is designed a capacity of 500,000 tonnes a year with the power plant at 1,250 mw, and alumina required for the smelter will be likely from Nalco’s Damanjodi refinery. Consultant Engineer's India (EIL) has found the project is technically feasible. The site was chosen at Jharsuguda due to its neighbouring with IB valley coal reserves, and the coal ministry has assured Nalco of a long-term supply from Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) mines. However, water availability is still a problem. Preliminary feasibility study suggests to obtain water from IB River, but it is noy easy to achieve due to unrest from the region’s peasants. The state-owned Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa (Ipicol) has forwarded the company's application for water from IB river to the water resources department. Senior from the Nalco said water availability will mainly depend on the government, besides, Nalco is projecting to build smelters in South Africa and Iran, with having sent study delegation to South Africa, and cheap power supply is the major problem that should be assured. The company intends to set up a 5 lakh tonne per annum smelter and 1,260 mw captive power plant in two phases in South Africa. COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of WAM News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of WAM.