Vedanta optimistic of ore supply to Lanjigarh refinery

BHUBANESWAR: Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal on Tuesday said raw material crisis for its 1 million tonne per annum (MTPA) alumina refinery at Lanjigarh would be resolved in the next three to four months.
"There are two to three bauxite deposits under Odisha Mining Corporation. The state government has taken it up with the Centre for mining lease of those bauxite deposits," Agarwal told the media here.
The Vedanta chairman met chief minister Naveen Patnaik, chief secretary G C Pati and development commissioner A P Padhi. He also exuded confidence that the company would start exploring mines soon.
Vedanta has so far invested around 60,000 crore in its refinery and smelter at Jharsuguda. It plans to increase the capacity of the refinery to 2 MTPA by next year-end.
To tide over the acute shortage of bauxite, Vendanta is importing bauxite and alumina from outside. "The refinery is running to only 25% of its total capacity due to raw material scarcity," Agarwal said.
The London-based company is also exploring other options, including the two mines, Sijimali and Kutrumali, originally allotted to infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
He, however, avoided a query on quantum of loss the company has to bear every day due to non-operation of its plant.
Vedanta faced a jolt after its bid to mine bauxite reserves at Niyamgiri Hills, home to particularly vulnerable Dongaria Kondhs, was rejected.