THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 19, 2026

State-owned aluminium major National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) is gearing up for a major capacity expansion while actively exploring the adoption of green power, aligning its growth strategy with the broader national vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, Chairman and Managing Director Brijendra Pratap Singh said on Monday. He underlined that infrastructure development, sustained economic growth and the transition towards cleaner energy are central to the company’s long-term plans.

Speaking to news agency IANS, the NALCO chief said the company’s roadmap towards 2030 envisages an investment of around ₹30,000 crore, anchored by two flagship projects — a 0.5 million tonne aluminium smelter and a 1,080 MW thermal power plant. These projects, he noted, will form the backbone of NALCO’s next phase of expansion and strengthen its position in the domestic aluminium market.

Singh said the preparation of the detailed project report has already commenced, with the appointment of a consultant expected to be finalised within the current month. The company is targeting Board approval for the DPR by July or August this year, keeping the expansion firmly on track. To meet rising domestic demand, NALCO plans to undertake a brownfield expansion at its Angul smelter, adding 0.5 million tonnes per annum of aluminium capacity, supported by the proposed captive power plant.

The expansion, slated for completion by 2030, will deploy best-in-class, environmentally sustainable technologies aligned with global benchmarks, reinforcing NALCO’s commitment to responsible industrial growth. Singh also underlined the company’s near-term priorities, which include the commissioning of the fifth stream expansion of its alumina plant and the commencement of operations at the Pottangi bauxite mines. Both milestones are scheduled for June this year and are central to NALCO’s three-year capacity expansion vision.

Looking beyond primary aluminium, Singh said the company is also moving up the value chain with plans to set up a wire rod mill of 60,000 tonnes capacity, signalling a sharper focus on downstream and value-added products.