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NALCO: Aluminium demand to grow at 1.5 times of India's growth, focusing on value-added productsNALCO plans major expansion with a new 1 MT alumina refinery by June 2026, a 0.5 MT smelter, and 1 GW power plant by 2030, backed by ₹1,700 crore capex for FY26. The PSU sees alumina demand rising to 8 MT by 2030 and aims to boost value-added products and exports.By Abhimanyu Sharma   August 28, 2025, 11:34:19 PM IST (Published)2 Min ReadThe National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is aiming to increase production of value-added, fused, special-grade alumina needed in India for refractory and other areas.

From the present consumption of 4.5 to 5 million tons, the PSU expects growth in Alumina consumption in India to 8 million tons by 2030.

Stating that the company has no plans for disinvestment as of now, NALCO's CMD BP Singh said that the 1 million tons expansion of an Alumina refinery is to be commissioned by June 2026, and the company is planning to go for one more smelter of 5 lakh tons as well as add a power plant of 1 GW capacity by 2030.

The company has a capex plan of ₹1,700 crores for FY 26.

Highlighting that the company's increase in exports in the Alumina chemical sector will continue, he pointed out the need for more capacity in the value-added sector.

The company is manufacturing more rolled products in view of an increase in the need for foils; is planning for special grade alumina as well as a fused alumina plant in the chemicals segment; and is setting up a 60,000 tons of wire rod mill, as the requirement for wire rod is huge due to ongoing electrification work across India.

Expecting a 10% rise in demand for Aluminium with the economy growing by 6.5%, NALCO's CMD likened the growth in Aluminium demand to 1.5% of the rate of the country's growth.

Describing India as one of the lowest-cost producers of Alumina with the raw material secured for the next 20 years, he said that the company will need ₹30,000 crores for smelter and power plants, for which it plans to raise some money from its reserves and hopes to raise the rest from debt at good rates by virtue of being a zero-debt company.

Stating that captive coal mines take care of 35-40% of the company's cost of production as it is on power, he pointed to 45% growth in consumption of Aluminium in the power sector, with 15-16% growth apiece in the construction and transport sectors.

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