The Hindu Business Line : Vedanta Group investing Rs 20,000 cr in Bengal

Key proposals
The Vedanta Group has acquired, and will revive, the now-defunct West Bengal Aluminium Corporation that was set up in 1952 with an installed capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum.
Along with this, Vedanta will also set up new capacities with a view to taking the total smelter capacity to 6.5 lakh tpa.

Our Bureau

Kolkata, March 12 The $ 6.5-billion turnover Vedanta Group will set up aluminium manufacturing capacities in Burdwan district of West Bengal at an investment of Rs 20,000 crore. A `Memorandum of Development’ in this regard was signed here today between the Vedanta Group and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Ltd.

Among those present at the development agreement signing ceremony were the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, West Bengal’s Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Nirupam Sen, and the Chairman of the Vedanta Group, Mr Anil Agarwal.

As part of its roadmap in this regard, the Vedanta Group has acquired, and will revive, the now-defunct West Bengal Aluminium Corporation that was set up in 1952 with an installed capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum (tpa).

Along with this, Vedanta will also set up new capacities with a view to taking the total smelter capacity to 6.5 lakh tpa. Additionally, a power plant of 3000 MW capacity would be set up in two phases of 1,500 MW each. The twin projects will require 1,000 acres of land and are scheduled for completion within the next two years.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said the State Government has proposed to set up an aluminium park close to the Vedanta project. Investors would be encouraged to set up aluminium downsteam units in the aluminium park.

Mr Bhattacharjee said aluminium was a “green metal” and had the potential to replace wood in various applications. People should be encouraged to use more aluminium, especially in the context of the growing problem of global warming, he said.

Mr Nirupam Sen said work on the project could take off immediately on the 270 acres of land that is already in the possession of Vedanta. The State Government would make available additional land that would be required for setting up the twin projects. Mr Anil Agarwal said the project would meet the requirements of downstream units in the small and medium sector. He expressed happiness that the project was being set up in West Bengal, which was home to India’s first integrated aluminium manufacturing plant.

More Stories on : New Projects | West Bengal | Aluminium

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