Lanjigarh Refinery Plant to reopen by month-end, says Vedanta MD

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), June 8, 2013

y Express News Service - BHUBANESWAR

08th June 2013 10:39 AM

Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) on Friday said it is hopeful of reopening its 1-mtpa refinery plant at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district by month-end. “We expect to reopen the refinery plant by end of this month. The company hopes to procure bauxite from alternative sources to run the plant,” Managing Director of the company S K Rungta told mediapersons after meeting Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik here.

Vedanta had closed its refinery on December 5 due to acute shortage of bauxite. It is trying to procure bauxite from different States, including Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat. Claiming that VAL’s refinery is the only major industry in the tribal-dominated Kalahandi district, Rungta said the plant had sustained the local economy. The company has given direct and indirect employment to about 7,000 people besides making a large number of people self-employed. “Both the State Government and the local people are keen to reopen the refinery plant,” he said, adding that the Government is doing its best to ensure running of the plant at Lanjigarh.

Sources said Rungta, accompanied by VAL chief operating officer Mukesh Kumar, apprised the Government of its arrangements on availing bauxite from private miners in Gujarat and also opening of group’s Bharat Aluminium Company (Balco’s) Kawardah mines in Chhattisgarh. VAL requires 300,000 tonnes of bauxite every month to operate at full capacity.

Asked about the proposed gram sabha in affected villages of Niyamgiri hills, Rungta said the Government is implementing the orders of the Supreme Court. The Government has already asked the district collectors of Rayagada and Kalahandi to conduct gram sabhas as directed by the apex court.