NALCO registers record sale of Rs.5324 cr

Bhubaneswar, Jul 7: The National Aluminium company Limited (NALCO) has achieved the rare distinction of record sales of Rs 5324.20 crores, surpassing the previous record of Rs.4439 crores in 2004-2005.

With the increased production and sales, the company achieved the highest ever net profit of Rs 1564.65 crore, an increase of 27 per cent over the previous year figure of Rs 1234.84 crore.

The company achieved the highest ever metal sale of 3.53 lakh tonnes, including record domestic sale of 2.58 lakh tonnes compared to 3.38 lakh tonnes and 2.05 lakh tonnes, respectively, in the previous year.

During 2005-2006 which also happens to be completion of silver jubilee year of the company, Nalco has achieved spectacular success in production, sales and export since inception.

While the Bauxite Mines achieved the highest ever production of 48.54 lakh tonnes as against 48.52 lakh tonnes in 2004-05. The Alumina Refinery also produced a record quantity of 15.90 lakh tonnes of alumina(achieving 101 per cent capacity utilization) against 15.75 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

Similary, aluminium metal production at 3.58 lakh tonnes was also an all-time high compaared to 3.38 lakh tonnes in 2004-05.

Sources said with the launching of second phase expansion at an investment of Rs 4091.51 crores, Nalco has been pursuing the policy of continuous expansion with the Andhra Pradesh Government for setting up an integrated alumina-aluminium project based on bauxite resources in the State.

As part of the business development strategies, Nalco is actively exploring the possibilities of setting up joint venture project abroad, since surplus alumina to the tune of 1.2 million tonnes will be available after the 2nd phase expansion.

The present capacity of bauxite mines will go up from 48 lakh tonnes to 63 lakh tonnes, alumina refinery from 15.75 lakh tonnes to 21 lakh tonnes, aluminium smelter from 3.45 lakh tonnes to 4.60 lakh tonnes and captive power plant from 960 MW to 1200 MW.

UNI