Government report delays re-opening of Vedanta’s Lanjigarh refinery

Indian's aluminium giant, Vedanta Aluminium, is waiting for a report from the Odisha government before it resumes operations at the Lanjigarh refinery, which closed in December 2012 due to a lack of bauxite.

The report, on long-term raw material supply, should highlight the Odisha government's plan for the long-term supply of raw materials to Lanjigarh and should be published soon, according to a Vedanta spokesman.

Originally, the company had planned to resume operations at Lanjigarh at the end of June or beginning of July, but it has decided to play it safe and wait for the report, which is imminent.

In respect of Vedanta's intention to mine the Niyamgiri Hills, Vedanta is awaiting permission from the Gram Sabhas or local village government in the region, having been asked by the Supreme Court to seek its permission. The primary aluminium producer said that the state government is working towards the same goal.