Vedanta’s aluminium project ahead of schedule

Vedanta Resources Plc, which owns Sterlite Industries, said that the first phase of its aluminium project in Jharsuguda is six months ahead of schedule and will be commissioned in the first quarter of financial year 2009-10.

The company is setting up a 5,00,000 tonne per annum (tpa) aluminium smelter and aims to complete the project by the end of this fiscal. In a statement, Vedanta said, “The first phase of the 5,00,000 tpa Jharsuguda I aluminium smelter is progressing well and at present, 228 pots have been brought in line. The remaining 76 pots in the first phase are ready for commissioning, awaiting power stabilisation. We plan to begin phased commissioning from June 2009 and (the plant will) become fully operational by end FY10.”

The global metals major announced robust FY09 production numbers for aluminium, iron ore and zinc. But copper production was flat for the fiscal ended March 31, 2009.
Aluminium production for the quarter ended March 31 stood at 1,34,000 tonne, or 31% higher than the same quarter last year. For full year, it was at 4,62,000 tonnes, up 16.7% year-on-year. Vedanta said production was higher this year mainly due to the 82,000 tonne contribution from the new Jharsuguda aluminium smelter.

In December 2008, the company halted production completely at its firm Malco due to the crash in aluminium prices at the London Metal Exchange (LME). It also shut down one of its plants at the Balco smelter in the fourth quarter due to “high” operational costs.