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National Aluminium Company (Nalco) has agreed to supply 50,000 tonne per annum (tpa) of molten metal to the aluminium park coming up at Angul for promoting downstream industries.
The aluminium park is being developed jointly by Nalco and the state government’s land acquisition arm, Odisha Industrial Infra Development Corporation (Idco).
“Though Nalco is operating at reduced capacities, due to the difficulties in getting adequate supply of coal for its captive power plant, the company has agreed to supply 50,000 tpa of molten metal initially to Angul Aluminium Park for promoting downstream industries. Nalco may consider enhancing the quantity once the allocated Utkal-E coal block gets operational, which is presently delayed due to several hurdles,” said a Nalco release.
Nalco has announced its supply commitment after Idco pressed for ensuring raw material linkage for the aluminium park. “It is pertinent here to mention that while Idco is putting all its efforts in a dedicated manner for early development and operationalisation of the park, Nalco being an equal promoter of this venture must reciprocate by a formal commitment for providing raw material support for units in the park without further delay,” Idco’s chairman and managing director (CMD) and industries secretary Vishal Dev had stated in a letter to Nalco CMD Anshuman Das.
The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), under Union commerce & industry ministry, recently agreed to provide a grant of Rs 43.01 crore to the park under Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme. The industrial complex at Angul is to be developed on 204 acres of land at a cost of around Rs 125 crore. It has, so far, attracted investments worth Rs 631 crore. Two industries- Midal Cables and Metal Powder Company Ltd have proposed to set up their units in the park.
Bahrain-based Midal Cables Ltd proposed to set up an aluminium conductor and rod manufacturing unit at an investment of Rs 250-300 crore on 30-40 acres of land. The company intends to sell its products in domestic as well as international market.
