NALCO to venture into copper and coal sectors

Bhubaneshwar: State aluminium firm National Aluminium Company (Nalco) plans a foray into the copper and coal business.

It is planning to enter into copper mining, copper smelting and coal mining. As part of the diversification plan, NALCO is also planning to acquire coal mines in Congo and also negotiating for a coal property in Indonesia.

Nalco is India's third-largest aluminium maker and produces 361,262 tonnes of aluminium in the year ending March 2009.

The firm is also venturing in a nuclear power project as an independent power producer, is looking at prospects in coal mines in India and abroad. It is also looking for standalone coal mines.