Devbrat Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) will invest around Rs 30000 crore by the financial year 2027-28 on the company’s expansion and diversification plans, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi said this while addressing the 41st Foundation Day of NALCO on Thursday at the company’s headquarters in Bhubaneswar.

Of this proposed investment, the company will spend over Rs 7000 crore on the 5th stream refinery, Pottangi bauxite mines, bauxite transportation system from the south block and Utkal D&E coal mines. The remaining Rs 22000 crore will be spent on the smelter and captive power plant (CPP) expansions, which also include expansion of the company’s smelter plant at Angul district in Odisha with the construction of a 1400 MW feeder CPP.

“With the ambitious growth plans that NALCO has for the future, it will contribute significantly to the alumina and aluminium sectors having a multiplier effect in the production and consumption of this strategic metal and achieve Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision under the stellar leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji,” Joshi said.

Speaking to media following his arrival in Bhubaneswar yesterday, Joshi said, "Odisha is a mineral-rich State. Whatever demand was placed before me, the Modi-led govt resolved it in the true spirit of cooperative federalism. I urge the State government to utilise the central fund towards increasing mineral production, especially iron ore."

Joshi also said that the central government is extending all-round support to the mineral-rich state Odisha to avoid any interruption in the mineral production of the country. He stressed that in view of the requests made from the state government, the central government will amend concerned rules so that smooth production of minerals could be ensured and non-serious players barred from participating in mineral block auctions.

“Especially to expedite iron ore production in Odisha, we have approved the proposals to allot 2 iron ore mining blocks to Odisha Mineral Corporation and 1 block to Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd on the request of the state,” Joshi said.

An MoU has also been signed between Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (OMECL) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) for exploration of mineral blocks of OMECL. This will unleash the mineral potential in the state thorough extensive surveys and exploration. Moreover, in order to expedite the auction of mineral blocks in Odisha, relaxation in norms is also being considered.

Notably, an auction regime was introduced by Ministry of Mines for allotment of mineral blocks in India through an amendment made in MMDR Act in 2015. As per laid down procedures made through this amendment, leases for 46 mineral blocks were getting expired in March 2020, majority of them were situated in Odisha. To keep the mineral productions uninterrupted, the central government brought The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, in January 2020, that broadly mandated the state governments to take advance action for auction of mineral blocks so that the new leaseholder could be decided before existing lease gets expired. Secondly, it was also mandated that approvals and clearances shall automatically get transferred to the new owners of mineral blocks for a period of two years from the date of grant of new lease. During this period, the new owners could apply and get fresh clearances. This helped the new owners to continue with hassle-free mining operations.

Joshi said that NALCO, in association with the Odisha Government is also setting up a world-class Aluminium Park in Angul, in close proximity to its Smelter Plant to encourage the development of downstream and ancillary industries in Odisha. This will enhance employment in the area and give a boost to the local entrepreneurship.

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