Vedanta asks for fast raw material supplies in Odisha

 "We plan to enhance production in Lanjigarh refinery from 1 million tonne per annum to 1.5 mtpa, a 50 per cent increase.

It will help in raising overall aluminium output," said Abhijit Pati, Chief Executive Officer (Aluminium) of Vedanta Ltd. Stating that the target is to raise aluminium production jointly by the company's smelters at Jharsuguda in Odisha and Korba in Chhattisgarh to 1.5 mtpa, Pati said Jharsuguda would produce around 1 mt, while the rest would be contributed by Korba.

Three million tonnes of alumina would be required in order toproduce 1.5 mt of aluminium, he said adding that the company's move to increase production would enable Lanjigarh refinery would provide 1.5 mt alumina. Regarding the rest, Pati said the balance requirement would have to be met through imports.

Though the refinery at Lanjigarh is already armed with the approval to run at 4 mtpa, non-availability of bauxite within Odisha has been a major hurdle since the inception of the plant, he said.