The Supreme Court (SC) ordered National Aluminium Company (Nalco) to deliver 30,000mt of metallurgical-grade calcined alumina to Vedanta at Visakhapatnam on Free on Board (FOB) basis on Wednesday. The alumina will be used at Vedanta’s SEZ unit at Jharsuguda in Orissa.
The decision was given on Vedanta Resources’ contempt petition in the SC against Nalco. Vedanta had alleged “wilful disobedience” by Nalco on SC’s order dated January 14. The court had allowed Vedanta’s UK-based arm to participate in the tender process run by Nalco in order to sell 30,000mt of metallurgical-grade calcined alumina.
Vedanta won this tender meant for exports. But Nalco refused to allow UK firm to take consignment of alumina to Jharsuguda SEZ unit and insisted that the transaction be terminated at Vishakhapatnam port.
In the recent order, the apex cout observed that Nalco had no difficulty in delivering the consignment at Visakhapatnam port on FOB basis, though the same was meant to be used by Vedanta SEZ unit at Jharsuguda. However, Vedanta’s statement did not say that it will accept goods at Visakhapatnam port.