Operations at Nalco smelter stable

Despite shortfall in captive power generation, the smelter plant of the National Aluminium Company (NALCO) at Angul is operating at its normal production capacity.

The company sources said, disturbed logistics due to heavy rains and wetness of coal are cited as the reasons for the recent shortfall in power generation at the company's Captive Power Plant, located adjacent to the smelter.

Meanwhile, the company has requested Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for increasing the supply of coal. Besides, rakes have arrived with imported and washed coals, which Nalco had ordered earlier to strengthen its buffer stock.

Company sources said, Nalco is getting 12,000 tonnes of coal per day on an average from the nearby Mahanadi Coalfields. Out of its 8 units of 120 Mw capacity each, 7 units are operating at present. Similarly, out of its 840 pots, the smelter is operating 835 pots and the remaining 5 pots are under scheduled maintenance. With the arrival of supplementary coal, the company hopes to operate all the units of its Captive Power Plant soon and is expected to be in a comfortable position.

Nalco has signed a Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) with MCL for linkage of coal to make the newly commissioned 9th unit fully operational. The recent crisis has so far not affected the aluminium production, which was being apprehended earlier, the company stated.