Indus Valley Times

By Sukant Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24: In a major push to India’s industrial landscape, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Mines, along with Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), hosted a roadshow to showcase the Angul Aluminium Park Pvt. Ltd. (AAPPL). The event, held in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, September 23, highlighted Odisha’s emergence as the country’s aluminium capital and sought to attract investors to one of India’s most ambitious downstream metal parks.

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Hemant Kumar Sharma, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha’s Industries Department, underlined that the state contributes nearly 72% of India’s primary aluminium output. However, its downstream capacity remains underdeveloped, offering significant scope for expansion. Calling aluminium the “metal of the future,” he pointed to its growing applications in packaging, transport, EVs, renewable energy, and aerospace.

Spread over 223 acres and with plans to expand to 600 acres, Angul Aluminium Park is strategically located near NALCO’s smelter and other industrial hubs. Shri Sharma emphasized that the park, already home to three industries with four more in the pipeline, offers world-class infrastructure including assured power and water supply, advanced connectivity, training centres, and laboratories. “With the Central and State governments offering a slew of policy incentives, this park is set to become a national hub for aluminium-based industries,” he said.

Shri Brijendra Pratap Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NALCO, noted that the company will supply 50,000 tonnes of hot metal annually to units operating from the park, ensuring cost efficiency and competitiveness for downstream players.

Sharing Odisha’s success story in industrial development, Shri Manikanta Naik, Managing Director of Tata Steel SEZ, drew parallels with the Gopalpur Industrial Park, which now houses 14 major industries across sectors such as chemicals, solar cells, and green hydrogen. He expressed confidence that Angul Aluminium Park could not only replicate but potentially surpass Gopalpur’s success.

In his concluding address, Shri Jagdish Arora, Director (P\&T), NALCO, reaffirmed the company’s vision of developing AAPPL into a vibrant industrial hub that fosters innovation, investment, and job creation at a national scale.

Presentations from IPICOL, NALCO, and JNARDDC (Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre) highlighted India’s aluminium downstream potential and Odisha’s proactive policies. The roadshow drew participation from over 100 stakeholders, including investors, industry leaders, and business associations, signalling strong national interest in the project.