Nalco alumina production hit

DAMANJODI (ORISSA): National Aluminium Company (Nalco) on Monday expressed fears that its alumina production might come down by 35 per cent following a drop in bauxite supply from its Panchpatmali mines in the aftermath of the Maoist attack. Addressing visiting reporters at the mining site, Nalco General Manager (Mines) A. Chakraborty said production had gone down by 35.71 per cent to 9,000 tonnes from 14,000 tonnes a day in the last 13 days. The mining operations came to a grinding halt for nine days after Maoists staged attack on the Panchpatmali mines on April 12. The General Manager said that if the mining operations continued below the capacity level, it would surely affect refinery production. Nalco refinery produces about 4,500 tonnes of alumina a day by using about 14,000 tonnes of bauxite from the Panchpatmali site. Nalco Chairman and Managing Director C. R. Pradhan reviewed the situation by holding meetings with workers and officials here. The CMD had given his consent to make adjustments in the working hours to maintain the production level at the site, Mr. Chakraborty said. As per the immediate plan, three shifts of operation had been converted into two shifts.