National Aluminium Company
Encyclopedia
National Aluminium Company Limited, abbreviated as 'NALCO', (incorporated 1981) has units all over India
at places like Angul
and Damanjodi
. It was incorporated as a public sector
enterprise of the Ministry of Mines
, Government of India
in 1981.
Today, it is Asia
's largest, and one of the world's leading and the sixth largest, integrated aluminium
complex, encompassing bauxite
mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting
and casting
, power generation, rail and port operations. It boasts of some of the world's latest and finest technology in the Aluminium manufacturing industry.
Commissioned during 1985-87, Nalco has emerged to be a star performer in production and export of alumina and aluminium, and more significantly, in propelling a self-sustained growth. It has made the country more than self-sufficient in alumina and aluminium needs and has quite impressive export figures as well. Being the largest exporter of the metal in the country, it has its own section of port facilities at Visakhapatnam. All the units of NALCO employ the latest in technology and are some of the most advanced manufacturing units in the world.
The main units of NALCO are at Damanjodi (Mines & Refinery complex) and Nalconagar-Angul (Smelter & Power Plant Complex). The Bauxite mines called "Panchpatmalli Mines" is situated atop a set of five mountains called Panchpatmalli. These mines are open cast mines
. The refinery complex for producing bauxite is located in Damanjodi. The smelter unit of NALCO is located in Nalconagar, Angul.
The company's headquarters are located in Bhubaneswar
, which is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa
.
NALCO is considered to be one of the best profit making PSE in India and reaps impressively huge benefits every year. It is expanding by currently employing new projects. The ongoing second phase of expansion is set to make it the sixth largest producer of the metal in the world.
The recent disinvestment
issues, for the alumina giant, finally settled down after the central government decided not to disinvest profit making PSUs which meant that Nalco would not be privatized and continue to be a complete Govt of India Enterprise PSU.
The company has numerous awards to its credit, some of them being the most prestigious awards and recognitions.
The Company received Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award from Govt. of India for its contribution in the field of afforestation and wasteland development. The 1200 MW Captive Thermal Power Plant of the Company also received the prestigious Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar
for the year 2000 from Govt. of India for its outstanding contributions in the field of environment management. Besides these, the Company and its Units have received various National, State and Institutional awards for excellence in Safety & Environment Management.
Nalco received ISO 9001:2000 awards and OHSAS 140001 for is excellency in production technology & occupational health & safety systems respectively.
Alumina & Hydrate: Calcined Alumina, Alumina Hydrate, Zeolite-A and Special Products such as Specialty Hydrate/Alumina, (Alumina Chemicals). NALCO also produces aluminium Rolled Products.
, South Africa
, Iran
and within India
.
A joint venture between MEC and Nalco will operate a smelter in East Kalimantan
for $5.6 billion construction.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
at places like Angul
Angul
Angul may refer to:* Angul, town in India* Angul district, India...
and Damanjodi
Damanjodi
Damanjodi is a small town in the culturally rich and beautiful Koraput district in the Indian state of Orissa. It is primarily a hilly area with outstanding natural beauty and scarce population. A vast majority of the population of Damanjodi comprises the employees of National Aluminium Company ,...
. It was incorporated as a public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
enterprise of the Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Mines (India)
The Ministry of Mines, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to mines in India. As of May 2008, head of the ministry is the Cabinet Minister B.K...
, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 1981.
Today, it is Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
's largest, and one of the world's leading and the sixth largest, integrated aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
complex, encompassing bauxite
Bauxite
Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
and casting
Casting
In metalworking, casting involves pouring liquid metal into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowing it to cool and solidify. The solidified part is also known as a casting, which is ejected or broken out of the mold to complete the process...
, power generation, rail and port operations. It boasts of some of the world's latest and finest technology in the Aluminium manufacturing industry.
Commissioned during 1985-87, Nalco has emerged to be a star performer in production and export of alumina and aluminium, and more significantly, in propelling a self-sustained growth. It has made the country more than self-sufficient in alumina and aluminium needs and has quite impressive export figures as well. Being the largest exporter of the metal in the country, it has its own section of port facilities at Visakhapatnam. All the units of NALCO employ the latest in technology and are some of the most advanced manufacturing units in the world.
The main units of NALCO are at Damanjodi (Mines & Refinery complex) and Nalconagar-Angul (Smelter & Power Plant Complex). The Bauxite mines called "Panchpatmalli Mines" is situated atop a set of five mountains called Panchpatmalli. These mines are open cast mines
Open-pit mining
Open-pit mining or opencast mining refers to a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow....
. The refinery complex for producing bauxite is located in Damanjodi. The smelter unit of NALCO is located in Nalconagar, Angul.
The company's headquarters are located in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
, which is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
.
NALCO is considered to be one of the best profit making PSE in India and reaps impressively huge benefits every year. It is expanding by currently employing new projects. The ongoing second phase of expansion is set to make it the sixth largest producer of the metal in the world.
The recent disinvestment
Disinvestment
Disinvestment, sometimes referred to as divestment, refers to the use of a concerted economic boycott, with specific emphasis on liquidating stock, to pressure a government, industry, or company towards a change in policy, or in the case of governments, even regime change...
issues, for the alumina giant, finally settled down after the central government decided not to disinvest profit making PSUs which meant that Nalco would not be privatized and continue to be a complete Govt of India Enterprise PSU.
The company has numerous awards to its credit, some of them being the most prestigious awards and recognitions.
The Company received Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award from Govt. of India for its contribution in the field of afforestation and wasteland development. The 1200 MW Captive Thermal Power Plant of the Company also received the prestigious Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar
Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar
Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar is an environment award instituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India in the year 1987, in order to encourage public participation in environment...
for the year 2000 from Govt. of India for its outstanding contributions in the field of environment management. Besides these, the Company and its Units have received various National, State and Institutional awards for excellence in Safety & Environment Management.
Nalco received ISO 9001:2000 awards and OHSAS 140001 for is excellency in production technology & occupational health & safety systems respectively.
Products
NALCO produces various products such as Aluminium Metal: Ingots, Sows, Billets, Wirerods, Alloy wire rods, Cast stripsAlumina & Hydrate: Calcined Alumina, Alumina Hydrate, Zeolite-A and Special Products such as Specialty Hydrate/Alumina, (Alumina Chemicals). NALCO also produces aluminium Rolled Products.
Expansion
Nalco is planning to invest around 40,000 crores of Indian rupees in the next five years starting 2008. The investments will be made in alumina smelters and power projects in IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and within India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
A joint venture between MEC and Nalco will operate a smelter in East Kalimantan
East Kalimantan
East Kalimantan is the second largest Indonesian province, located on the Kalimantan region on the east of Borneo island. The resource-rich province has two major cities, Samarinda and Balikpapan...
for $5.6 billion construction.
Achievements
- First Mines Safety Award-1988 by DGMS
- Best Eco-friendly Factory Award 1994-95 to the Mines and Refinery Complex by Orissa State Factory Inspectrate
- State Award-1995 to Captive Power Plant from state Factory inspectorate for Environment Management
- Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award-1994 from MOEF, Govt. of India, for afforestation and wasteland development
- FICCI Environment Award for Environment Conservation and Pollution Control- 1996-97
- WEC-IIEE-IAEWP Environment award -1997 for contributing towards environment protection
- Gem Granite Environment Award for -1997-98 by FIMI, New Delhi for Mines
- Shri Sita Ram Rungta Memorial Social Awareness Award-1997-98 by FIMI, New Delhi
- Pollution Control Excellence Award - 1998 by Orissa State Pollution Control Board for Mines
- Special Commendation under Golden Peacock Environment Management Award 1998 Scheme by World Environment Foundation
- State Award for Best Occupational Health Centre to S&P Complex`-1998
- Best Safety Performance Award to CPP by CII (ER)- 1999-2000