Gujarat government is likely to take a final decision on setting up of an alumina plant and aluminium smelter in joint venture with Navratna PSU Nalco soon, a top official said. State-run Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation's (GMDC) board had recently discussed the JV proposal with Nalco and forwarded it to the state government for final decision. "After having discussions on the JV proposal with Nalco in our board, the proposal has been sent to the state government which will take a final decision on it," a top GMDC official said.
Nalco, a leading aluminium producer, had recently qualified as the sole bidder for the over Rs 10,000-15,000 crore alumina and smelter plant project proposed in Kutch district. It also paid the deposit amount of Rs 150 crore upfront that was required. The project bids were technically examined by the Nagpur-based Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, a GMDC official said.
The mega project is for one million tonne (MT) alumina and 0.5 MT aluminium smelter. GMDC will supply bauxite for the project from its group of mines in Kutch.
The estimated Rs 10,000-15,000 crore alumina and smelter is expected to be set up on the lines of such units installed by the UK-based Vedanta group in Orissa, but will deploy more advance technology, he said. Earlier in 2005, Gujarat government had signed an MoU with Aashapura group to set up the plant and smelter unit in Kutch. But later the MoU was not extended by government, following which GMDC in 2010 invited EOIs for the project.
