Aluminium major Nalco is planning to set up a green power plant of 150 MW capacity in Odisha, said Piyush Goyal, the Union minister of state for power, coal, new and renewable energy and mines. Nalco has sought early allocation of land from the state government, depending on which details of the project will be finalized. Nalco’s plans for expansion in Odisha, shall not only boost development in the state but also help the country achieve new milestones in the field of aluminium industry, he said. The proposed green plants will be powered by solar and wind energy, sources said. He was speaking at a function to dedicate a 198 MW wind power plant to the nation from here on Saturday. The wind power plants are located at Gandikota, Andhra Pradesh (50.4 MW), Ludarwa, Rajasthan (47.6 MW), Devikot, Rajasthan (50 MW) and Jath, Maharashtra (50.4 MW).
The company is on an expansion mode with plans to increase the capacity of its 0.46 million tonne aluminium smelter at Angul with an addition of 0.6 million tonne. It is also adding one million tonne to the 2.275 million tonne alumina refinery at Damanjodi for which environment clearance has been obtained. Nalco chairman cum-managing director T K Chand said , “I am thankful to the Centre for allocating two coal blocks and bridge linkage coal to Nalco. With these, the problems of raw material securitization and availability of power for expanding capacities have been solved”.
Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram inaugurated an exhibition on centenary celebration of Champaran Satyagraha on the Nalco office premises. The exhibition showcased Champaran Movement through display panels, live painting by noted painter Rabi Rath, sand animation by Suchitra Maheshweta, a skit and dance. Besides, Nalco signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar (IITBS) on research and development under its Industry-Institution Interaction programme. Another MoU was signed with MIDHANI, a central PSU under Ministry of Defence, for high-end aluminium products to reduce imports of such items.
Source:EETIE
