NALCO Accelerates ₹30,000 Crore Aluminium Expansion Programme

Bhubaneswar, September 30, 2026: National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) is accelerating an ambitious ₹30,000 crore expansion programme aimed at substantially increasing its aluminium production capacity and strengthening its integrated mining, smelting and power-generation operations.

The programme includes a new 0.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) aluminium smelter, involving an estimated investment of around ₹18,000 crore, along with a 1,080 MW captive power plant requiring approximately ₹12,000 crore. The expansion will also involve the development of associated bauxite and coal-mining resources, strengthening NALCO's vertically integrated production model.

The additional smelting capacity is targeted for commissioning around 2030, creating a multi-year investment and contracting opportunity across the metals and infrastructure supply chain.

The scale of the programme is expected to generate demand for engineering, procurement and construction services, heavy electrical equipment, transformers, switchgear, industrial automation, material-handling systems, furnaces, pollution-control equipment and specialised machinery. Mining contractors, railway and logistics providers, construction companies and industrial technology suppliers could also benefit from associated projects.

The captive power plant will be particularly important because aluminium smelting is highly electricity-intensive. Developing dedicated generation capacity will help NALCO secure a reliable power supply while supporting the economics of the expanded smelter.

The project also comes at a time when aluminium demand is being supported by renewable-energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, power transmission, construction, defence and advanced manufacturing. Aluminium's lightweight and conductivity characteristics make it an important material for solar structures, transmission networks and electric mobility.

For Odisha, the investment could create a significant industrial ecosystem around mining, refining, smelting, power generation and logistics, while generating additional opportunities for local contractors and ancillary manufacturers.

NALCO's expansion therefore represents not just a capacity addition but a long-term industrial investment pipeline extending across the entire aluminium value chain.