National Aluminium Company (NALCO), the largest integrated Bauxite-Alumina-Aluminium-power complex in the country, is gearing up to commence coal production from Utkal-D block located in Odisha.
The company is in advanced stage of obtaining mine opening permission after executing all the statutory clearances from state and central government and completion of land acquisition. Earlier in Apr ’20, it had received mining lease for the block for a period of 30 years.
The information was provided by Coal Minister Mr. Pralhad Joshi while addressing on the occasion of 41st foundation day celebrations of the company.
He also added that the company is concurrently in the process of obtaining statutory clearances for Utkal-E coal block with a plan to open the mine in 2022-23.
With an initial capacity of 2 mn t coal production per annum and total mineable reserve of 101.68 mn t, the coal block would meet the company’s captive coal requirement, and would reduce part dependence on CIL.
Notably, country’s coal production from mines other than those of CIL/SCCL during the first 7 months of FY ’21 (Apr-Oct ’20) has fallen 2% y-o-y to 32.45 mn t compared with 33.12 mn t recorded in the corresponding period of FY ’20.
Expansion Plans:
With an aim to continue the sustainable development, NALCO has proposed INR 30,0000 Crores expansion plan spread over the next 7-8 years. The project include expansion of its refinery by 1 mn t capacity, adding 3.5 mn t capacity Pottangi bauxite mines and operationalization of Utkal D & E coal blocks.
Moreover, enhancement of Aluminium smelting capacity by 0.5 mn t and captive power plant by another approximately 1200 MW through brownfield expansions at Angul district of Odisha has been envisaged in this growth plan.
Leave a Reply