Nalco shuts Orissa bauxite mines after Naxal attack

National Aluminium Company (Nalco) has temporarily shut down its bauxite mining production from Monday following a Naxal attack at its Panchpatmali bauxite mines in Orissa on late Sunday night.

Bauxite mining is likely to remain closed for a couple of days till things revert to normal. Nalco officials told DNA, “Things are under control and we have had to close down bauxite mining on Monday. But the refinery at Damanjodi is functioning as usual and has not been affected. We always keep sufficient stock of bauxite at our bauxite yard in the refinery premises to take care of any exigencies including, say, a conveyor belt break-down.”

These mines in Koraput in Orissa are some of the world’s richest sources of iron ore with an estimated 310 million tonnes of bauxite reserves. Nalco’s capacity is around 48 lakh tonnes from these mines annually.

Nalco’s aluminium complex is largest in India and sixth-largest in the world. Nalco’s main units are at Damanjodi and Nalconagar-Angul in Orissa.

Security forces now have control of the mine and there was no disruption in the production of aluminium and alumina, officials said.