Date:28/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/28/stories/2007072855981800.htm

Business - Briefly

Nalco shuts down two power units

Special Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR: National Aluminium Company (Nalco) has shut down on Thursday two units of its 960 MW captive power plant at Angul due to shortage of coal.

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL) that used to supply coal to the aluminium company was not able to supply sufficient quantity of coal due to decline in production at the Bharatpur coal mines.

“If coal supply does not improve in a day or two, we will be forced to shut down more units of the power plant which may ultimately affect the operation of the smelter plant,” a senior official of the company said.

C. R. Pradhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the company, who is in New Delhi since Wednesday, was discussing the matter with the Ministry of Coal for the short supply of coal as well as the Railway Ministry with regard to shortage of rakes.