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DO YOU KNOW?
· India has large resources of high-grade bauxite deposits of the order of 3,037 million tonnes (MT). The recoverable reserves are placed at 2,525 MT. The proved and probable reserves are 1,218 MT.
· India ranks fifth in the world in bauxite resources, next only to Australia, Guinea, Brazil and Jamaica.
· Even at an anticipated consumption of 7 MT per year, these reserves are expected to last for over 350 years.
· Given the natural resource endowment, growing demand for aluminium and its alloys, economic opportunities and scope for exports, India can produce alumina at internationally competitive prices.
· Aluminium metal can be produced competitively with the latest technology coupled with cheaper energy arrangements in India.
· The greatest scope for value addition and employment lies in the development of down stream aluminium end products like extrusions, rolled products, fabrication and finished items. India can benefit by this value addition given the low energy requirements and labour intensity of down-stream industries.
· Aluminium has significant industrial and economic importance for India, as this is the metal for which the country has abundant raw material.
· While our bauxite reserves account for 7.5 per cent of the world's total deposits, our aluminium capacity is only 3 per cent, indicating the scope and need for new capacities to meet growing internal demand and for sizeable exports on a long-term basis.
· Demand for aluminium is expected to grow rapidly with increasing use in the construction, power transmission, and transport packaging sectors.
· There are five companies in the manufacture of alumina / aluminium, viz. the National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a public sector undertaking, Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a joint sector undertaking, Hindalco Industries Limited (HINDALCO), Indian Aluminium Company Limited (INDAL) and Madras Aluminium Company Limited (MALCO), all three in the private sector.
· The annual installed capacity for production of alumina is 27,97,000 tonnes.
· There are seven smelters to produce aluminium metal with a total installed capacity of 9,32,000 TPY. One plant with a total capacity of 3,45,000 TPY belonging to NALCO is in public sector, five are in the private sector and one belonging to BALCO is in joint sector.
· Aluminium production in India commenced in 1943 with a modest 25,000 tonnes per annum capacity, which has grown to an installed capacity of 9,32,000 TPA.
· The primary producers in the country produced 8,16,503 tonnes of aluminium in 2003-04, 6,89,041 tonnes in 2002-03 and 6,34,661 tonnes in 2001-02.
· India was dependent on imports of aluminium metal till 1988. With the commissioning of NALCO's plant in 1988 a sea change took place and the country which was net importer of aluminium became self-sufficient.
· It exported 2,08,479 tonnes of aluminium in 2003-04.
· To facilitate better availability of aluminium metal in the country, the Government has permitted free import of aluminium under OGL.
· Effective from 11.2.2000, the foreign direct investment (FDI) allowed on automatic route was increased from 50 per cent to 100 per cent.
New Delhi : Jyaistha 30, 1927 / June 20, 2005
Ministry of Mines & Minerals
DS/SCH
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