The Centre has allocated Utkal D and E coal blocks to the aluminium major Nalco which has a 4.6 lakh tonne smelter and 1,200 MW Captive Power Plant in Odisha's Angul district. Utkal E coal block was allotted to Nalco in 2004 which was later cancelled in the wake of a Supreme Court judgement.
The allocations will add 200 million tonne of coal to Nalco's captive resources and will allow the company to go ahead with its expansion plans.
Nalco had already spent Rs 126.34 crore, including Rs 98 crore towards compensation against land acquisition for Utkal E coal block.