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State-run mining major Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) has acquired land in excess of 100 hectares for the first phase of an alumina plant and aluminium smelter, which would be set up in joint venture with Navratna public sector unit (PSU) National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) at Mandvi taluka in Kutch district. In all, 400 hectares of land is required for the first phase of the project.
The first phase of the project involves setting up an alumina plant whereby alumina will extracted from the ore bauxite by means of a process at an alumina refinery. The second phase involves setting up an aluminium smelter. Aluminium smelting is the process of extracting aluminium from alumina.
“We have already acquired 104 hectares of land for the initial phase of the project and are in process to acquire more than 300 hectares of land,” said a government official.
The official added that a Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR) regarding the project, which has been submitted by NALCO, is under study.
GMDC has 26 per cent equity in this joint venture and will supply bauxite for the project from its group of mines in Kutch.
Investment for the first phase of the project would be around Rs 5,400 crore, up from initial estimates of Rs 4,000 crore, the official stated, adding that the total investment for the project (including the aluminium smelter) would be around Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore.
The capacity of the alumina plant and aluminium smelter is one million tonne alumina and 0.5 million tonne aluminium smelter respectively, the official said, adding that the plant will deploy advanced technology.
India produced 1.48 million tonnes of aluminium in 2009-10, according to ‘Indian Mineral Industry at a Glance 2011-12’, a report published by Nagpur-based Indian Bureau of Mines. The production increased to 1.62 million tonnes in 2010-11 and 1.65 million tonnes in 2011-12.
According to Union Ministry of Mines, the world aluminium consumption in 2010 and 2011 was 40.96 million tonnes and 44.88 million tonnes respectively.
