November 20, 2008

NALCO to import coal to avoid reducing output

BS reported that National Aluminum Company, which had cut production last month because of coal shortage, plans to import 100,000 tonnes of fuel to prevent another disruption at a time when prices of the aluminum are record high.

Mr C R Pradhan chairman of NALCO said that the company will purchase thermal coal from countries including Indonesia in two months. He said that “Shutting down operations will create problems, which we want to avoid at any cost. By importing, we can avoid the troubles that we encountered earlier.”

Production at National Aluminum fell 30% for six days in June after supplies from Coal India to its 960 MW power plant were disrupted by a strike.