The state of Odisha is the largest producer of bauxite in India.
India
has abundant resources of bauxite and serves as a raw material in the
production of aluminium. As per the report of the Ministry of Mines, India
stood at the 7th position in terms of largest bauxite reserves in the world
with about 2,908.85 million tonnes in the financial year 2016-17.
Odisha
alone constitutes almost 50% of the bauxite production in India and has about
1,370.5 million tonnes of bauxite reserves. The prime bauxite belt of the state
lies in the districts of Koraput and Kalahandi, and continues in the state of
Andhra Pradesh. The belt is 300 km in length, 40-100 km wide, and 950 to 1,300
meters in thickness.
The
main bauxite deposits are found in the districts of Koraput, Bolangir,
Kalahandi, Sundargarh, and Sambhalpur in Odisha. The main mining areas in the
state of Odisha are Baphalimoli Parbat, Kathakal, Pottangi, Manjimali,
Chandgiri, Pasenmali, Kunnumali, Kodingandi, and Karalput in the districts of
Kalahandi and Koraput.
The newly set up aluminium plant at Damanjoli has built a market for the bauxite mineral in this area. There is another plant proposed to be set up at Doragurha which will help in expanding the market base for the bauxite.
The newly set up aluminium plant at Damanjoli has built a market for the bauxite mineral in this area. There is another plant proposed to be set up at Doragurha which will help in expanding the market base for the bauxite.
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Bhubaneswar
The
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is a Navratna CPSE and a part of the
Ministry of Mines. This company came into existence on 7th January, 1981, and
has a registered office in Bhubaneswar. It is the first public sector company
in India to enter into an international metal market with the London Metal
Exchange (LME) since May, 1989.
Product
|
Unit
|
2016-17
|
2017-18
|
2017-18
|
2017-18
|
Total
|
Actual
|
Target (Very Good)
|
Actual till Sep’17
|
Projected (October 2017
to March 2018)
|
2017-18
|
||
Bauxite
|
Lakh MT
|
68.25
|
66.3
|
37.07
|
31.18
|
68.25
|
Bauxite Mines
The
bauxite mines of NALCO are located in Damanjodi, Koraput, in Odisha. The mines
of bauxite are mined by a fully mechanized system which has a capacity of 6.826
MT every year. The company also has a bauxite mine setup at Panchpatmali
plateau. This plateau is 18 km in length and is a rich resource of bauxite.
Panchpatmali Bauxite Mine has also been awarded the CII Eastern Region SH&E
Excellence Appreciation Award 2016-17.
