State-run aluminium major National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has delivered its strongest half-yearly financial performance since its inception, posting a 54% surge in Profit After Tax (PAT) to Rs 3,837 crore for the first half of FY 2026-27.
Addressing the Media Connect 2026 programme in Bhubaneswar on Friday, NALCO Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Brijendra Pratap Singh also put to rest speculation regarding the relocation of the company’s flagship Angul aluminium smelter to Andhra Pradesh.
Clarifying in response to a media query, Singh stated unequivocally that no such proposal exists, reaffirming the Navratna PSU’s deep commitment to expanding its industrial footprint in Odisha.
Record-Breaking Financial & Production Milestones
Backed by robust operational efficiency, NALCO registered an all-time high half-yearly total income of Rs 11,143 crore in H1 FY 2026-27, marking a 33% year-on-year increase. Operating performance saw a sharp upswing as EBITDA climbed 50% to Rs 5,539 crore, while Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose 55% to Rs 5,160 crore. On the operational front, the company achieved its highest-ever half-yearly aluminium cast metal production at 2.35 lakh tonnes.
Accelerating Mega Expansions in Odisha
Outlining a clear roadmap for capacity growth within the state, the CMD revealed key timelines for NALCO’s upstream and downstream projects:
- Pottangi Bauxite Mines: Set to be operationalised within the next two to three months, boosting bauxite production from roughly 7 million tonnes to over 10 million tonnes.
- Damanjodi Refinery: Commissioning of the fifth stream at the Alumina Refinery will expand alumina capacity from 2.1 million tonnes to 3.1 million tonnes.
- Anugola Brownfield Smelter: Supported by a technology licensing pact with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a proposed 0.5 MTPA expansion will nearly double smelting capacity from 0.46 MTPA to around 1 MTPA by December 2030.
- Captive Power Security: To power the expanded smelter, NALCO plans to set up a 1,080 MW captive thermal power plant via a 50:50 joint venture with NLC India Limited.
Securing Critical Minerals at Home and Abroad
Beyond aluminium, NALCO is spearheading India’s critical mineral security through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), a joint venture in which it holds a 40% stake. KABIL has acquired five lithium exploration blocks in Argentina’s Catamarca province. With non-invasive studies confirming lithium presence, drilling is set to begin shortly and conclude by the end of 2027, alongside plans for a pilot plant to produce lithium carbonate. KABIL is also scouting opportunities in Argentina’s Salta province and equity stakes in producing lithium assets across Argentina, Chile, and Australia.
Domestically, NALCO is turning industrial waste into strategic wealth. In collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and other premier institutes, the company is developing a pilot plant at Damanjodi to extract gallium from red mud, alongside ongoing research to recover rare earth elements, scandium, alumina, and ferro-titanium from red mud and fly ash.
Green Energy, AI, and Inclusive Growth
Aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047NALCO aims to source 25–30% of its total power requirement from renewable energy—including solar and wind—by 2030, while integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to optimise plant operations.
On the social front, the company recently trained and facilitated employment for around 100 local youths from Anugola and Damanjodi across technical trades.