Nalco to invest Rs 80 cr on R&D

National Aluminium Company (Nalco) plans to invest Rs 80 crore in setting up a Research & Development (R&D) centre in the city which will be commissioned in three years, the company's chairman and managing director A K Srivastava said here.

Through the setting up of this centre, the navratna aluminium company aims to achieve technological excellence in bauxite and alumina production.

Srivastava was speaking at the 12th 'National Technology Day ', being observed by the aluminium major.Speaking on 'Challenges and Opportunities in Nuclear Energy', Baldev Raj, director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) - Kalpakkam said, “With the reserves of global crude oil declining with every passing day, nuclear power is an inevitable option for sustainable energy. Nuclear power generation is expected to grow at a very fast pace after 2020 and till the end of this century.”

On the possibility of setting up a nuclear power plant in Orissa, Raj said, Nuclear power plant can be set up in Orissa provided the Centre grants its approval and also if the state government takes the necessary initiative.Keeping in view the potential of nuclear power, IGCAR will set up six more nuclear reactors based on PFBR (Prototype Fast Breeder Reactors) design in a phased manner and all these reactors will begin commercial operations by 2020, he added.

Raj said, in order to meet the energy requirements, the focus has to be on promoting coal imports to a limited extent, accelerating power sector reforms and cutting cost of power.

Efforts should also be made to enhance value and life cycle of existing energy plants, he stated. P K Padhi, director (projects and technical), Nalco also spoke on the occasion.