The Aditya Birla Group (ABG) would set up a Rs 1000 crore aluminium downstream project near its existing smelter at Hirakud. The project envisages setting up of rolling mill to manufacture high quality aluminium flat rolled products (FRP) and cans.
The project, to be put up by Hindalco Industries, a group company, will cost about Rs 1000 crore. Meanwhile, the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) has cleared the project which now awaits the approval of the High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) of the Orissa government.
The Aditya Birla Group (ABG) chairman, Kumar Mangalam Birla today called on chief minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss on the group’s various projects in Orissa. Sources said, the issue of setting up of this downstream unit along with the expansion of proposed smelter capacity of Aditya Aluminium at Sambalpur from 0.26 million tonne per annum (MTPA) to 0.36 mtpa figured in the discussion with the chief minister.
Emerging from the meeting, Birla said, emphasis will be given to completion of the group’s existing projects in Orissa while pursuing a new downstream investment plan at Hirakud. The company’s existing projects included setting up of an alumina refinery at Rayagada by group company, Utkal Alumina and a smelter-cum-power complex at Samablapur by Adityal Aluminium.
Birla said, the company is not facing any problem at Raygada and the company is happy about the support provided by the state government and investment made by it in the state.
On signing of concession agreement with the Orissa government for the captive port project at Chudamani, he said, it is a matter of process and this is being followed. Similarly, the company is working on the expansion of its smelter capacity and work is going on the ground.
The state officials said, an environmental carrying capacity study is being done by the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) for Sambalpur-Jharsuguda region. Once the report is received, the government would consider the company’s proposal to expand the capacity of the smelter.
