November 26, 2001

The details of production of Alumina and Aluminium in the country during last

three years in respect of primary producers of Aluminium are as under:

(In Metric Tonnes)

        In order to increase the production of Alumina and Aluminium, Government have exempted the Aluminium Sector from the proviso of Compulsory Licencing. National Aluminium company Limited (NALCO) is implementing an expansion programme to increase the capacity of its Alumina Refinery from 0.8 Million Tonnes per year to 1.575 Million Tonnes per year and its smelter capacity from existing 2,30,000 Metric Tonne Per Year to 3,45,000 Metric Tonne Per Year.

        The above was stated by MOS for Coal & Mines Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad in a written reply today in Lok Sabha.