‘India needs to be self-sufficient in aluminium production’
Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD of Nalco, outlines his vision to expand the organisation.
Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, Chairmancum-managing Director of National Aluminium Company (Nalco), the largest integrated aluminium unit in Asia, is a mining veteran and author. He has been in the mining and metal sector since 1982, earlier serving as the Director Commercial of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited which is popularly known as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and Director Personnel & Director (Sales & Marketing), of Central Coalfields Limited. He took over the mantle of Nalco on 27 July 2015. In an exclusive interview, Dr Chand underscores the need for India to be selfsufficient in aluminium production. Excerpts:
Q: What is the overall metal scenario in the world at the moment?
A: The production and consumption in 2018 is expected to grow by 0.7% and 3.9% respectively over 2017, thereby creating a market deficit of nearly 2Mlnt in 2018.
A lot of uncertainty has been daunting the market. The major contribution factors being US sanctions and subsequent withdrawal of sanctions against UC Rusal, trade war between US and China, import tariffs on aluminium products by US, 50% capacity utilisation at Alunorte due to environmental concerns, etc. Rising input cost and low LME prices are putting lots of stress on smelters, with lot of smelters in the West shutting down and more than 2Mlntpy capacity curtailed in China.in 2019, the market is expected to be sustainable, stable and having low uncertainty and to be fundamentally driven.
Q: How is Nalco planning to expand?
A: Nalco is planning to expand with a definite roadmap prepared through a Corporate Plan with a threeyear action plan, seven year strategy and 15 years’ vision. Accordingly, the company has extensive plans for brown field and green field expansion projects, which include the ongoing 5th Stream Refinery project of 1 MTPA capacity in existing Alumina Refinery at Damanjodi (Brownfield), development of Pottangi bauxite mines, Utkal D&E coal mines in Odisha, establishment of 5 lakh TPA brownfield smelters in Odisha, 6 lakh ton green field Smelter and 1320 MW power plant. The company also envisages diversifying into commercial mining (Manganese, Chromium, etc) and Li ion batteries.
Q: The consumption of aluminium in the country will reach 10 million tonnes in the next 10 years. Can India be self-sufficient in aluminium production in the next decade?
A:yes, India can be self-sufficient in aluminium production. We at Nalco are going ahead with a Brownfield expansion at Angul to reach almost a million tonnes capacity in the next five years. Suitable integrated policy for aluminium production, consumption and recycling is the need of the day to meet this unfolding challenge. Q: What is your vision for a New Odisha?
A: I want to see New Odisha on the growth path moving to an industry-based economy.