Bhubaneswar, 18.04.2020: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), one of leading producer of alumina and aluminium in the country, was granted the mining lease of Utkal-D coal block by the Odisha government, through a notification issued on April 16, by department of Steel & Mines.
As per the notification, the mining lease of Utkal D coal block is spread over an area of 301.28 hectares in Kosala, Nandichood, Similisahi and Raijharan villages under Chendipada Tehasil of Angul district.
NALCO is considering to open Utkal-D coal block in the current financial year (2020-21). The initial capacity of Utkal-D coal block is 2 million tonnes per year with a total mineable
reserve of 101.68 million tonnes.
Expressing confidence that the operationalization of Utkal-D coal block will contribute significantly to the growth of the company, NALCO CMD Sridhar Patra thanked the State and Centre for sanction of mining lease.
“For a power intensive industry like aluminium, it is very essential to have a secure supply of coal. I hope with the mining lease in place, it
will usher in a new era of development for the company,” he said.
The Utkal-D coal block was allocated to NALCO in May 2016. NALCO is also in the process of obtaining mining lease grant of Utkal- E coal block, allocated around the same time.
Upon Operation of both Utkal-D & E, NALCO will be able to produce 4 million tonnes coal per year. The lease for Utkal-D has been granted for a period of 30 years.