India-based Nalco produced 418,000mt aluminium in the financial year 2020 (April 2019 to March 2020) hit by an acute shortage of coal during monsoon season and later by COVID pandemic. Production of aluminium dropped by 6.9pc from 440,000mt in the prior year. Capacity utilization was 90pc for aluminium production.
Production of bauxite, alumina hydrate and aluminium also dropped in FY2020 compared to the prior year, according to a statement issued by National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco). At Panchpatmali mines bauxite production dropped to 7.32mn mt from 7.41mn mt in fiscal year 2018-19. Nalco’s Bauxite transportation increased to 7.30mn mt from 7.23mn mt in the prior year.
Alumina refinery produced 2.15mn mt of alumina hydrate, down from 2.16mn mt produced in the previous year.
For FY2021, the company plans to focus on bauxite mining and alumina refining, coupled with cost reduction measures, said Sridhar Patra, CMD of NALCO.
Despite COVID19 lockdown, all units of Nalco are operating but with reduced manpower. The company is implementing adequate social distancing and hygiene measures at its premises.