NALCO Plans To Double Angul Smelter Capacity To 1 MTPA
NALCO expansion plans targeted for 2030-31; company reports record half-yearly profit of Rs 3,837 crore.
Bhubaneswar: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Union Ministry of Mines, on Friday unveiled an ambitious expansion roadmap, including plans to more than double its aluminium smelting capacity at Angul from the existing 0.46 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to approximately 1 MTPA by 2030-31.
Announcing the plans, NALCO chairman-cum-managing director Brijendra Pratap Singh said the expansion would significantly strengthen the company's global competitiveness, production capabilities and export potential.
As part of the initiative, NALCO has entered into a technology licensing agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) for adopting its proprietary aluminium smelting technology. The partnership is expected to facilitate the deployment of globally proven, energy-efficient production processes at the expanded Angul facility.
To meet the additional power requirement, NALCO has partnered with NLC India Limited through a 50:50 joint venture to establish a 1,080 MW captive thermal power plant comprising four units of 270 MW each. The company is also exploring the integration of 200-250 MW of renewable energy into the project.
The expansion will be supported by the ongoing fifth-stream project at NALCO's alumina refinery in Damanjodi, which is expected to augment alumina availability and cater to the additional requirements of the expanded smelter.
Singh said the company was also exploring opportunities for additional greenfield aluminium projects as part of its long-term strategy to strengthen domestic production, promote value addition and support India's manufacturing ambitions.
Asked whether NALCO had any plans to set up an aluminium smelter in Andhra Pradesh, Singh said, “No such proposal has been considered so far.”
Meanwhile, NALCO has registered its best-ever half-yearly financial performance in the first half of 2026-27. Its total income touched a record Rs 11,143 crore, while net profit surged 54 per cent year-on-year to Rs 3,837 crore.
The company's EBITDA rose 50 per cent to Rs 5,539 crore, while profit before tax increased 55 per cent to Rs 5,160 crore.
For the second quarter ended September 2026, net profit increased 28 per cent over the corresponding period last year, while operational income rose 26 per cent to Rs 5,419 crore.
NALCO also recorded its highest-ever half-yearly aluminium cast metal production of 2.35 lakh tonnes and achieved record cumulative domestic sales of alumina and aluminium metal.
Reflecting its strong financial position, the board announced an interim dividend of Rs 4.50 per equity share, involving a total payout of Rs 826.48 crore for 2026-27.