By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 3, 2018: The blue-chip aluminium major, National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) has achieved several significant achievements during 2017, according to its chairman and managing director, Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand.

Listing out the achievements, Chand said, the company has been able to utilize 100% capacity of its Bauxite Mines, achieve 100% normative capacity of Alumina Refinery, commission first-of-its kind Detluoridation plant in the World using Nano based Emrion technology and add a new value added product AA 3105 Alloy Fan Blade stock.

Besides, Nalco has been recognized as the lowest cost producer of Alumina for 2016 & 2017 by Wood Mackenzie, Chand added saying that there is a 94% growth in net profits in second quarter of 2017-18 and net sales turnover has jumped 30% to Rs 4179 crore in first half 2017-18 from Rs 3224 crore of previous year, with net profit registering 42% growth.

Also, the share price of Nalco has gone up by 31.7% during the calendar year, Chand informed while addressing a press conference here.

Nalco’s net gain in the aftermath of implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) was around Rs. 100 crore due to rationalization of taxes. The company has however, passed on the gains to customers in terms of Rs 3000/- discount per ton of aluminium.

“During last two years or more, Nalco has taken many initiatives in this direction and today Nalco has become a household name in Odisha. a blue chip company in India and a company to watch abroad. Nalco’s focus on 3D – Dedication, Determination and Discipline have made the company a collective acclaimed all across the industries”, Chand said.

In the ensuing Foundation Day scheduled on 4th and 5th January 2018, the company will dedicate three projects, the Nalco CMD said. The projects are South Block Bauxite Mines, Panchpatmali, Odisha, 18.5 MW Turbo Generator at Alumina Refinery, Damanjodi and Nano Technology based Defluoridation Plant at Smelter, Angul.

Besides, the company will sign MoU with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to set up a centre of excellence ‘Institute of Skill Development’, which will impart training to the employable youth to make them industry-ready.