National Aluminium Company, Adani Exports, Gujarat Alkalis and Chemicals

NATIONAL ALUMINIUM COMPANY Expansion Drive The public sector aluminium behemoth National Aluminium Company (Nalco) is on an expansion drive awaiting approval from the government for the planned second phase of investments. The central government earlier had chalked out a plan for disinvesting Nalco to bring down its holding in the aluminium major from 87.15 per cent to 26 per cent, after factoring a 2 per cent reservation for employees. Now, with the stalling of the disinvestments proceedings, the company wants to go ahead with its expansion programme. The previous phase of expansion was accomplished during 2002 increasing aluminium smelter capacity by 1.15 lakh tonne per annum (tpa) and adding two 120 MW each captive power plants. During this round of expansion, the company intends to invest a total of Rs 4,000 crore, of which Rs 1,200 crore will be utilised to further expand alumina refinery capacity by 5.25 lakh tonne per annum. This will increase the total capacity of alumina refinery at Damonjodi in Orissa to 21 lakh tonnes. The remaining amount will be utilised to further increase the aluminium smelter capacity at its Angul plant in Orissa from 3,45,000 tonne to 4,60,000 tonne, expansion of bauxite mines from 48 lakh tonnes to 63 lakh tonnes and addition of two more captive power plants of 120 MW each. This will increase Nalco