Nalco plans Rs 409 cr capex

Bhubaneswar: The public sector aluminium major National Aluminium Co (Nalco) will invest about Rs 409 crore for the upgradation of its mines and expanding its alumina refinery capacity.

The company’s board approved a proposal to raise the alumina refinery capacity from 21 lakh tonne to 22.75 lakh tonne.

It will be done through upgradation of its fourth stream from 5.25 lakh tonne to 7 lakh tonne. Similarly, the bauxite mines capacity will be expanded from 63 lakh tonne to 68.25 lakh tonne. The project is expected to be completed in about 35 months.

Meanwhile, the second phase expansion of the company, being undertaken at an investment of Rs 5,100 crore, is going on full swing.

Post-expansion, the bauxite mining capacity to 63 lakh tonne, alumina refining capacity to 21 lakh tonne and aluminium smelting capacity to 4.6 lakh tonne. Power generation capacity is also expected to increase to 1,000 mw. All these projects are expected to be complete by December 2008.

The company has also zeroed in on Indonesia for setting up a 5 lakh tonne smelter plant and 1,250 mw power plant.