National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a navratna PSU under the Ministry of Mines, Governmet of India, has registered an all-time high production volume of 6,340,142 tons of bauxite in the financial year 2015-16, up 10.47% and 1,953,000 tonnes of alumina i.e. 5.51% higher than the corresponding figures of the previous fiscal, as per the data released by the company.
“These are the highest-ever production figures since inception of the company”, announced Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO.
As per NALCO statement, at a time when 70% aluminium companies world over have reported loss and the aluminium industry is reeling under heavy pressure due to sluggish international market, the PSU could be remained profitable by focusing on its bauxite mining and alumina refining arm, besides effecting several cost reduction measures, particularly in metal production.
The Navratna PSU also produced 3,72,183 tons of metal registering an increase of 13.79% as compared to the corresponding figure of the previous fiscal, which include the highest-ever production of 1,01,380 tonnes of wire rods.
During the year, the metal sale was higher by 14.21% at 3,72,424 tonnes and power generation was up by 13.84% at 5841 million units, as compared to previous year.
Moreover, the mining lease of South Block and Central & North Block at Panchpatmali bauxite mines of the company in Koraput district has been extended up to March 2020 by Odisha Govt, which were operating under deemed extension till now.