National Aluminium Company (Nalco) is planning to invest Rs 4,570 crore to increase the capacity of the Orissa refinery from its existing 2.1 million tpa to 3.1 million tpa, by 2016.

For the purpose, the company has prepared a draft of detailed project report (DPR). The expansion will get bauxite from Pottangi mines in Orissa, which has a reserve of about 65 million tonne. Nalco has already received in-principle approval for a mining lease from the Orissa government for the mine. The company has plans to begin production simultaneously with the new capacity, at the alumina refinery. The mine, at its existing reserve levels, can produce bauxite till 2036.

Besides, other capex involve the development of one million tpa alumina refinery in Gujarat with an investment of Rs 4,065 crore. It also includes construction of 0.5 million tpa aluminium smelter and 1,260 MW captive power plant in Sundargarh district of Orissa, at a cost of Rs 16,345 crore.

The company feeds the alumina refinery from its captive bauxite mine at Panchpatmali hills of Koraput district, which has 6.3 million tpa production capacity. It is also in the process of expanding the capacity of the mine to 6.8 million tpa by this year.

In addition to this, as per its expansion plan, the company intends to have 4.40 million tpa alumina making, and 1.730 million tpa aluminium producing, capacities in India with an investment of Rs 40,000 by 2020. Besides, it is also aiming for 5,000 MW captive power generation capacity by 2020.