Odisha govt to consider Nalco's refinery expansion

Expansion is estimated to cost Rs 4,357 cr; Nalco to add million tonnes to existing 2.275 mn tonnes

The High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) of the Odisha government would consider the proposal by National Aluminium Company (Nalco) to expand capacity of its alumina refinery at Damanjodi (in Koraput district) from 2.275 million tonne per annum (mtpa) to 3.275 mtpa.

Nalco's expansion is estimated to cost Rs 4357.3 crore.

"The State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) has referred Nalco's expansion proposal to the HLCA for approval", said Kalyan Mohanty, general manager, Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd (Ipicol).

The Pottangi mines with 70 million tonne bauxite reserve would feed Nalco's new refinery of one million tonne capacity planned at Damanjodi.

Recently, Nalco had submitted Rs 300 crore CSR (corporate social responsibility) package to the state government for the Pottangi deposits. The CSR projects would be implemented at Damanjodi, Angul and other parts of Odisha.

The SLSWCA today cleared 1.2 mtpa capacity cement grinding unit by JSW Cement at an investment of Rs 318 crore. JSW has evinced interest to set up the unit within the steel plant premises of Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL) at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district. The company has sought 30 acres of land for its proposed unit.

Oil marketing company HPCL Ltd has proposed to set up an LPG bottling plant at Rayagada on 30 acres of land at a cost of Rs 92 crore.

The SLSWCA also approved a plan by Aditya Birla Group-owned Pantaloon Retail Ltd to establish a garment manufacturing unit at an investment of Rs 53.1 crore.

"Pantaloons has sought 10 acres of land at Mancheswar for their unit. The facility would have the capacity to produce 2.8 million pieces per annum. It would create direct employment for 1420 and indirect employment for 175 persons", Mohanty said.

Thailand-based Indorama Ventures has evinced interest to put up a manufacturing unit for pet preforms at Khurda. The company, run by Indian promoters, will invest Rs 95 crore on the proposed unit that promises employment for 145 people.