Nalco granted bauxite mining lease in Andhra

The Centre has approved the proposal for grant of mining lease (ML) to the state-owned National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) over Gudem and Katamraju Konda bauxite blocks in Andhra Pradesh. The AP government had earlier sent its recommendations in favour of the company to the Centre for the same property. The two deposits are estimated to have 85 million tonne of bauxite.

The Navaratna comapny plans to build a 1.4 million tonne greenfield alumina refinery based on the Gudem and KR Konda bauxite deposits in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. The project is estimated to cost Rs.6000 crores. This investment is part of the company’s ambitious plan to be a reputed global company in the metals and energy sectors. It is the largest alumina producer and third largest aluminium maker in the country. The company produced 1,576,500 tonnes of alumina and 361,262 tonnes of aluminium in 2008-09.

Meanwhile, the company expected to start work on the project within next two years after meeting all statutory requirements including preparation of mining plan, forest and environment clearance and land acquisition.

“Immediately we will push for signing of the lease deed with the state government and obtaining the forest clearance. Also drilling of the mining area will taken up within next two months to assess the quality and extent of bauxite reserve which is essential for preparation of the mining plan”, said a top official of the company, adding, once the mining plan is approved by IBM, it will take one to two years to start the mining operation.

Simultaneously, the company will identify about 1000 acres of land in Visakhapatnam district for the alumina plant. After the acquisition of required land, orders for procuring equipments will be placed, he informed. While Mecon is the consultant for preparation of the pre-feasibility report, another consultant will be appointed for preparation of the detail project report after settling all the land and mining issues.