Sterlite commissions 2,45,000 tpa aluminium smelter

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) Sterlite Industries India Ltd today said it has commissioned its new 2,45,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) capacity aluminium smelter consisting of 288 pots.

The expansion takes the total aluminium capacity of the company's Balco in Chhattisgarh at 3,45,000 tpa with full energy-integration.

The company said the de-bottlenecking of Tuticorin copper smelter to expand its capacity by 1,00,000 tpa to 4,00,000 tpa is now complete and the smelter is now fully operational.

The smelting and refining costs at Tuticorin are one of the lowest worldwide and were at a level of US cents 5.2 per pound for the six months ended on September 30, 2006.

The above expansion will further help in reducing the costs of production, a company statement said.

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