The National Aluminium Company limited (Nalco) and the Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation Organisation (IMIDRO) would constitute a joint taskforce comprising senior projects, operations and marketing executives of the Nalco, Directors of Ministry of Industries of Iran and senior executives of the Iranian Aluminium Company (IRAlCO) to deliberate on the proposed smelter and gas-based power plant in the Chabahar Free Trade Zone.
The taskforce has been given three months to submit its report.
“The project would help Nalco use low-cost energy available in Iran for conversion of its alumina, presently exported to international markets, to aluminium. The aluminium products from the Joint Venture Company are expected to be highly cost-competitive combining the advantages of low-cost Nalco alumina and low-cost Iranian energy,” said Nalco CMD Dr Tapan Kumar Chand.
Dr Chand is in Iran as part of an Indian business delegation led by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan. Dr Chand held discussions with Iran’s Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines & Trade, the IMIDRO Chairman and top officials of Government of Iran and other aluminium companies.
Based on the taskforce’s report, ownership pattern, project financing, long-term supply of gas and other aspects would be decided. An IMIDRO team is likely to visit Nalco shortly. Dr Chand has thanked Dharmendra Pradhan for taking initiative in taking up the Nalco’s proposal including gas pricing, long term supply of gas and allotment of land in Chabahar at the highest level of the Iranian Government.