By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Backed by strong support from Union Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs, Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Mines Ministry CPSU, Navaratna , NALCO on Thursday scripted yet another History with CMD Sridhar Patra proving a point of his corporate leadership in a very short period of time as Chairman cum CMD.
In the Financial Year 2020-21, NALCO achieved 73,65,001 MT in Bauxite production as against 73,02,245 MT in 2019-20. The figure was 72, 30, 546 MT in 2018-19 and 70,25,109 MT in 2017-18. In 2016-17, the figure was 68,25,000MT.
“Records are meant to be broken. Despite challenging times, NALCO registered the highest ever Bauxite Production since inception, a testimony to the hard work and commitment by Team NALCO. @JoshiPralhad@MinesMinIndia,” NALCO tweeted @NALCO_India.
The CPSU has also wished People of Odisha on Utkal Diwas. “ଉତ୍କଳ ଦିବସର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ.NALCO wishes everyone a Happy Utkal Diwas. @JoshiPralhad@MinesMinIndia,” NALCO tweeted @NALCO_India.
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is a Navratna CPSE under Ministry of Mines. It was established on 7th January, 1981, with its registered office at Bhubaneswar. The Company is a group ‘A’ CPSE, having integrated and diversified operations in mining, metal and power. The Company registered net-profit of Rs. 138 crore and sales turnover of Rs. 8,426 crore in financial year 2019-20. The export earnings have been recorded at Rs. 3,511 crore. Presently, Government of India holds 51.28% equity of NALCO.
NALCO is one of the largest integrated Bauxite-Alumina-Aluminium- Power Complex in the Country. The Company has a 68.25 lakh TPA Bauxite Mine & 21.00 lakh TPA (normative capacity) Alumina Refinery located at Damanjodi in Koraput district of Odisha, and 4.60 lakh TPA Aluminium Smelter & 1200MW Captive Power Plant located at Angul, Odisha. NALCO has bulk shipment facilities at Vizag port for export of Alumina/Aluminium and import of caustic soda and also utilizes the facilities at Kolkata and Paradeep Ports. The Company has registered sales offices in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore and 9 operating stockyards at various locations in the Country to facilitate domestic marketing.
Globally, NALCO has achieved the distinction of being the lowest cost producer of Bauxite and Alumina in the world for the year 2019 as per the latest report of Wood Mackenzie. With sustained quality products, the Company’s export earnings accounted for about 42% of the sales turnover in the year 2018-19 and the Company was rated 2nd highest net export earning CPSE in 2018-19 as per Public Enterprise Survey report.
With its consistent track record in capacity utilization, technology absorption, quality assurance, export performance and posting profits, NALCO is a bright example of India’s industrial capability.
NALCO is the first Public Sector Company in the country to venture into international market in a big way with London Metal Exchange (LME) registration since May, 1989. The Company is listed at Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) since 1992 and National Stock Exchange (NSE) since 1999. Besides, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18000, ISO 50001 & SA 8000 certifications, NALCO’s Data Centre at Corporate Office and Disaster Recovery Site at Alumina Refinery certified for Information Security Management System and awarded ISO 27001:2013 Certification and Accreditation from International Accreditation Services, USA.”
To face the challenges of ever-evolving market and position the Company in a sustainable growth path, a new corporate plan has been developed with well-defined 3 year action plan, 7 year strategy & 15 years vision of being a Premier and Integrated Company in the Aluminium value chain with strategic presence in Mining both domestic & global, Metals and Energy sectors. The Corporate Plan has chalked out a roadmap for multifold growth in revenue and Profit by 2032.
As a responsive Corporate, the Company is harnessing renewable energy aligning to the ambitious programmes of Govt. of India. The Company has already commissioned 198 MW wind power plants and further 25 MW wind power plants are in pipeline.
To be more resilient to the vagaries of market, the Company is moving ahead with its extensive plans for brownfield and greenfield expansion projects, which include the ongoing 5th Stream Refinery project of 1 MTPA capacity in existing Alumina Refinery at Damanjodi (Brownfield), development of Pottangi bauxite mines, Utkal D&E coal mines in Odisha, establishment 5 lakh TPA brownfield Smelters along with 1400 MW Captive Power Plant in Odisha.
As part of backward integration, the Company is establishing a caustic soda plant in JV with Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Limited (GACL) in Gujarat and a CT Pitch plant in JV with NINL in Odisha.
NALCO is a leading name in the industrial map of Eastern India. True to the spirit, the Company is taking the lead to bring in a significant change in the Industrial map of Odisha. The Company has formed JV Company named ‘Angul Aluminium Park Private Ltd’ (AAPPL) with Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) to give a boost to ancillary, upstream & downstream products related to aluminium industry.
Besides, the Company has formed a JV Company with MIDHANI named Utkarsha Aluminium Dhatu Nigam Limited (UADNL) to make high end aluminium alloy to meet the requirement of defence and aerospace sector. To acquire strategic mineral assets in overseas location and making supply in India, NALCO has formed a JV Company named Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) with HCL and MECL.
The Company pursues its R&D activities fervently and has already filed 39 patents out of which 20 patents have been granted and 8 have been commercialized till April 2020. As a part of its effort to convert waste to wealth, the Company is endeavouring to salvage iron concentrate from red mud, Gallium from spent liquor. The Company has also successfully commissioned a first of its kind de-fluoridation process based on nano-technology to de- contaminate the effluent water of Smelter solving a long standing fluoride contamination problem of the area.
The Company, while climbing the ladder of success has strived hard to play a significant role in the socio-economic development in its operational areas through empathetic CSR activities. Rehabilitation of displaced families, employment, income generation, health care and sanitation of local people, education & skill development, providing safe drinking water, development of infrastructure, pollution control, environmental measures, rural development, promotion of arts, crafts & culture and various humanitarian good will missions have earned NALCO a place of pride in the corporate world and was recognized with ‘Honourable Mention’ for Excellence in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at National CSR award 2018 by Ministry of Corporate Affairs held in New Delhi .
The Company is one of the 1st CPSEs to have a CSR Policy since inception and is compliant to the norms of Companies Act. It has spent around Rs. 39 crore towards CSR activities in the year 2019-2020. For effective implementation of CSR activities, NALCO has set up a standalone Foundation in 2010.
With encompassing initiatives to provide a better living to the periphery areas and contribute to nation building the Company has taken many ambitious projects. Its notable efforts include Indradhanush scheme, where the Company has sponsored 1003 tribal children of Maoist infested Damanjodi sector and provided education to them in 3 reputed residential schools. 603 meritorious girl students of BPL families at Angul and Damanjodi sector have been adopted with financial support by the Company under ‘Nalco ki Ladli’ scheme in line with Govt’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ Mission.
Recognizing the healthcare needs as one of the critical need, NALCO is operating 8 MHUs (Mobile Health Units) and one OPD in peripheral villages of its plants by which about 1.3 lakh patients were treated freely in FY 2019-20. Going a step ahead, the Company has set up a secondary modern eye care hospital at Angul and work is in progress for a 600 bedded Night Shelter in AIIMS, Bhubaneswar for attendants of indoor and OPD patients availing long term treatment.
Responding to the call of Govt of India, NALCO actively participated in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by constructing 479 toilets in various districts of its operating areas and has also taken up a noble initiative to make 11 periphery villages completely Open Defecation Free (ODF) in Damanjodi and Angul sector out of which 8 villages have been made ODF.
The Company has taken the responsibility of Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri & its surrounding under PM’s Iconic Shrine Development Programme to upgrade the infrastructure & maintain cleanliness with special emphasis on Renovation and beautification of Gandhi Park as a tourist spot, temple illumination, beautification of Puri town with thematic painting based on Jagannatha culture and battery-operated vehicle in railway station for differently-abled passengers and sick people.
The Company’s penchant to prop up the renowned heritage, art and culture of the State has drawn wide acclamation specifically with patronization of living cultural and sports legends by the Company.
With demand for skilled manpower set to grow multi fold in the Country, the company is providing skill training to unemployed youths in association with training partners in various demand areas like retail, healthcare, beautician, sewing machine operator etc.
Showing commitment and solidarity with the Nation and the home State where it operates in the fight against COVID 19 pandemic, NALCO donated Rs.7.6 crore to PM CARES Fund and Rs.2.6 crore to CM’s Relief Fund, Odisha. The total contribution toward COVID-19 relief fund is Rs. 10.2 crore.
The Company has funded a 200 bedded exclusive COVID-19 hospital with 10 bedded ICU and oximetry along with 24-hour diagnostic facility at Nabrangpur, Odisha. This hospital will cater to the need of tribal dominated district of Nabarangpur and other adjoining districts of southern Odisha, viz Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Kalahandi.
The company since inception has marched ahead with sustainable growth, perpetual profits while exhibiting deep empathetic concern for the society. Etched in the hearts of millions of people of Odisha as modern industrial “Konark”, the company has been able to create a special place for itself for the people it works with. Enhancing the stakeholders’ wealth has remained the prime mover to steam Company’s growth but nonetheless the driving spirit remains to bring smiles in the face of multitude of its stakeholders.
