Terror strikes fail to dent Nalco production

KOLKATA: Terrorists may have pulled off an audacious strike at Nalco's bauxite mines in Orissa last Sunday, but it's clearly business as usual for the country's largest aluminium producer. The company, which had been battling the Maoist strike till late Monday night, says it is poised to resume mining activity at Damanjodi on Wednesday.

A joint team of CISF commandos along with the anti-naxal wing of the state police carried out aerial combing operations over the forests adjoining the mines on Monday night to 'clean' up the area. This led to a fresh exchange of bullets between rebels and the securitymen some 10 km from the mines.

"Security forces have handed over the mines to us today (Tuesday). We will gradually resume production there. It may take a week or two to restore normalcy there," a senior Nalco executive told ET from Bhubaneswar. The bluechip aluminium major also dominates global trade in alumina at the London Metal Exchange.

"Production of both alumina and aluminium will not suffer due to the rebels' strike. Operations at our smelter and refinery have not been hit since we maintain a month���s stock of bauxite," the official added.

Due to Sunday's attack, Nalco lost two days of production at the Damajodi bauxite mines. But the company���s output of both alumina and aluminium would have been hit had the company lost 10 days production at its mines. "We plan to work in extended shifts to make up for the loss of two days of production. Our staff of electricians and mechanics have already gone up to the mines during the second shift on Tuesday," the source added.

Damanjodi mines had been under threat of possible insurgent attack. Sunday's attack may not affect production at Nalco, but it has managed to strike terror in the hearts of the people in the area. Orissa's largest and most efficient industrial units has been attacked at will. The repercussions may be felt far beyond the Panchpatmalli hills and across Orissa's border.