Aluminium export can touch $10 bn with govt help: Vedanta's Ajay Kapur

Government support for exports will provide Indian aluminium producers a level playing field vis-a-vis global suppliers, says Ajay Kapur, CEO-Aluminium and Power, Vedanta

India with its plentiful reserves of bauxite and thermal coal has the potential to become a leading aluminium supplier, says Ajay Kapur, CEO-Aluminium and Power, Vedanta, in an interview with Kunal Bose. Edited excerpts:

With a 6 per cent fall in demand in 2019-20, India’s aluminium consumption in the 2020-21 first quarter collapsed 57 per cent. What is it looking like for the whole year? 

The demand destruction was because of production slump in all end-use sectors of aluminium. Now, with economic activities getting back on track, demand is picking up. Global aluminium use is driven majorly by India and China. We