NALCO records more than 100% capacity utilisation at its Panchpatmali mines.

National Aluminium Company (Nalco), the country’s leading producer and exporter of alumina and aluminium, said it recorded more than 100% capacity utilisation at its Panchpatmali mines by producing 73.02 lakh tonne of bauxite in fiscal 2019-20, which is the highest ever since company’s inception.

Bauxite transportation too went up to 73.02 lakh tonne, also the highest ever, so far. During 2019-20, the company’s Alumina Refinery produced highest-ever 21.61 lakh tonne of Alumina Hydrate, setting a new record. The Steam & Power Plant (SPP) of the Alumina Refinery also achieved highest ever net power generation.

Nalco' s aluminium smelter achieved more than 90% capacity utilization with cast metal production of 4.18 lakh tonne in 2019-20, in spite of facing acute coal crisis in the monsoon season and the recent Coronavirus pandemic.

Commenting on it, Sridhar Patra, chairman, NALCO said: "We would be able to tide over the downturn by continuing to keep our focus on bauxite mining and alumina refining arm, coupled with several cost reduction measures, despite the on-going sluggish metal market."

ET