Despite “Corona” crisis: NALCO sets record of all-time high production of Bauxite and Alumina

National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), on 01^st April’20, declared in a statement that it has recorded a three-sixty degree success in bauxite and alumina productions in the fiscal year 2019-20.

The company has utilized its full capacity at Panchpatmali mines and achieved bauxite production of 7.30 million tonnes. This is the highest ever production since the journey of Nalco started. The officials of Nalco said: “the bauxite transportation of the company has increased to an all-time high of 7.30 million tonnes”.

Nalco’s alumina refinery has raised the bar by reaching its highest ever production of 2.16 million tonnes of alumina hydrate.  The steam and power plant (SPP) of the refinery has also achieved the highest-ever net power generation.

Despite all these, the aluminium smelter of the company has recorded 90% utilization with cast metal production of 438,000 tonnes in spite of facing an acute coal crisis in the monsoon season and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The coal supply has been regularised very recently. The energy consumption at the company’s smelter plant was at the lowest in 2019-20.

Sridhar Patra, CMD, Nalco, credited the record performance to the teamwork and dedication of the employees and said: “Despite a sluggish metal market, the company could tide over the downturn by continuing to keep our focus on bauxite mining and alumina refining arm, coupled with several cost reduction measures.”

Amid COVID-19 crisis, all Nalco units are operational, though with reduced manpower and contributing to the national economy. The company has already executed appropriate social distancing and sanitization standards in its plants and residential areas to safeguard its employees and workers.