https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

PSU Power: NALCO Sets 2030 Maharatna Goal with ₹35,600 Cr Investment Push

Ambitious Growth Strategy Includes Alumina Refinery, Smelter, and Power Plant
Indian Masterminds Stories

New Delhi: In a significant push to scale up operations and attain Maharatna status by 2030, Navaratna PSU National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) has unveiled plans for a massive ₹35,600 crore investment in brownfield expansion projects over the next five years. The strategic roadmap includes a new alumina refinery, aluminium smelter, and captive thermal power plant – all aimed at pushing the company’s turnover beyond ₹25,000 crore, a key benchmark for Maharatna classification.

Speaking to the media, NALCO CMD Bijendra Pratap Singh stated, “Our current turnover is around ₹17,000 crore. Once we add the new refinery, it will rise to ₹19,000–20,000 crore. With the smelter and power plant coming up, we will cross ₹25,000 crore.”

Maharatna Target: What It Means

To qualify as a Maharatna, a central PSU must achieve an average annual turnover exceeding ₹25,000 crore over three years, alongside strong profitability and global presence. Currently holding Navaratna status, NALCO is banking on this multi-phase expansion to meet the financial and operational benchmarks required for the higher designation.

Refinery Expansion to Add 1 Million TPA Capacity

The first leg of the investment plan involves a ₹5,600 crore project to expand NALCO’s alumina refining capacity by 10 lakh tonnes per annum (TPA) at its Damanjodi facility, taking the total capacity to 5.1 million tonnes annually.

“We are adopting a strategy to maintain surplus alumina, which can be sold in domestic or international markets,” Singh explained. He also noted that while US tariffs on aluminium have had minimal impact on NALCO, the company is now exploring new markets like the UK and prioritizing value-added products to buffer global trade shocks.

₹30,000 Cr Smelter and Power Plant Planned at Angul

The second phase of NALCO’s investment drive is its largest — a ₹30,000 crore outlay for establishing a 0.5 million tonne aluminium smelter and a 1,080 MW captive coal-based power plant at Angul. The smelter will cost around ₹18,000 crore and the power plant ₹12,000 crore.

“To secure coal supply, we are considering a joint venture with companies like Coal India, NTPC, or Singareni Collieries. A consultant is already preparing the Detailed Project Report,” Singh added. The project is targeted for commissioning by 2030.

Raw Material Security: Coal and Bauxite Sourcing

Cost efficiency is central to NALCO’s strategy. By sourcing coal from its own mines, the company has already reduced production costs by ₹200–300 per tonne. With a current coal mining capacity of 4.4 million tonnes, NALCO aims to acquire additional mines to sustain its captive power plants.

On the bauxite front, the company plans to start operations at the Pottangi mines by Q4 of FY2025–26, further enhancing its raw material self-sufficiency.

Three-Phase Growth Plan to 2030

The PSU’s growth journey is being pursued through a three-phase strategy

  • Short-term (ongoing): Maximize capacity utilization, improve efficiencies, and cut production costs.
  • Mid-term (2–3 years): Expand into value-added aluminium products, integrate green energy, and adopt Industry 4.0 practices.
  • Long-term (by 2030): Complete brownfield expansions to elevate turnover and achieve Maharatna status.

“All our current units are already running at more than 100% of rated capacity. We’re now focusing on operational excellence and green transformation,” Mr Singh emphasized.

Challenges and Outlook

While NALCO’s expansion plan positions it strongly on the path to Maharatna status, industry analysts note that its dependence on coal-based power could become a long-term liability amid the global shift towards low-carbon aluminium. Rivals like Hindalco and Vedanta are also ramping up capacities with a stronger tilt toward renewable energy.

NALCO’s push to reduce costs and increase capacity is critical, but achieving global competitiveness will eventually require deeper investments in clean energy, R&D, and product diversification.

About NALCO

National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Mines, is one of the largest integrated aluminium producers in India. With a strong focus on sustainability and renewable energy adoption, NALCO continues to align its operations with India’s clean energy transition and long-term environmental goals.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar bribery case
Bribery to Benami Assets: CBI Registers Disproportionate Assets Case Against IPS Harcharan Singh Bhullar; Massive Cash, Gold, & Property Recovered
President Droupadi Murmu Rafale flight
Historic First: At 67, President Droupadi Murmu Becomes First Indian President to Fly in Rafale Fighter Jet, Calls It an ‘Unforgettable Experience’
MRPL_Bags_4th_Successive_Best_
MRPL Wins 4th Consecutive Innovation Award 2024-25 for GOAT Technology at 28th Energy Technology Meet
REC_Limited_and_SMFCL_sign_MoU_
REC Limited and SMFCL Partner to Drive Maritime Infrastructure Growth and Strengthen India’s Blue Economy
NLC-INDIA-resized-neyvili
NLCIL Posts Rs. 1,564 Crore PAT and Expands Renewable Energy Portfolio with New Projects in Q2 2025-26
Koyla Shakti Dashboard NICDC ULIP
Koyla Shakti Dashboard: A Leap Towards Smart, Data-Driven Coal and Logistics Management in India
QMF seeker technology
From Radars to Missiles: DRDO Unveils Cutting-Edge Indigenous Technologies to Strengthen India’s Defence and Boost Combat Readiness
Pushkar Singh Dhami CM
Milam Set for Transformation: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Boosts ITBP Morale and Tourism Plans
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar bribery case
Bribery to Benami Assets: CBI Registers Disproportionate Assets Case Against IPS Harcharan Singh Bhullar; Massive Cash, Gold, & Property Recovered
President Droupadi Murmu Rafale flight
Historic First: At 67, President Droupadi Murmu Becomes First Indian President to Fly in Rafale Fighter Jet, Calls It an ‘Unforgettable Experience’
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT