Bharat
Aluminium Company Ltd (BALCO)
Background
In 1965, Balco was established as a public sector unit, with Russian
technology. Till 2001, Balco was a public sector enterprise fully-owned by the
Central government. In 2001, the Centre divested 51 per cent equity and
management control in favour of Sterlite Industries (I) Limited.
Balco uses VSS (Vertical Stud Soderberg) technology to produce aluminium
from alumina. Thus, although Balco is an integrated player with a captive power
plant, its cost of production is high due to outdated technology, resulting in
high consumption of power and other inputs. The company has temporarily shut
down part of smelter I in order to cope with the current economic slowdown and
declining commodity prices.
Plant location and capacity details
Balco's production facilities are located primarily in Korba, Madhya
Pradesh. The company is a vertically integrated aluminium producing company
with captive bauxite mines, captive power plants, refineries and smelters
having a capacity of 200,000 tonnes per annum of calcined alumina, 100,000
tonnes per annum for aluminium metals and 270 MW power plant.
Business mix
The company produces aluminium metals and its semis (such as cast
aluminium and wrought aluminium) and process products (such as alumina hydrate,
calcined alumina, carbon elctro paste, vanadium sludge and dross).
