AV Birla group eyes to expand capacities in copper and aluminium
Drawing up a major blueprint to expand capacities in both
The A V Birla group, which has decided to merge its aluminium and copper businesses, is now drawing up a major blueprint to expand capacities in both, through brownfield and greenfield opportunities. Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla has commissioned a feasibility study on the extent of expansion and the costs involved. The expansions would be at the integrated aluminium complex at Renukoot (Uttar Pradesh) and the copper complex at Dahej in Gujarat.
Debu Bhattacharya, MD, Indo Gulf confirmed that it is keen on increasing the copper as well as aluminium smelter capacities to an extent that can easily be supported by the existing infrastructure facility at the current locations. He said, It is our endeavour to attain global size and have an edge over our competitors. We will continue to expand, irrespective of whether we manage to get Nalco or not, Bhattacharya added. He, however, declined to comment on the exact capacity expansion planned.
Hindalco is the country's largest aluminium producer and accounts for 44 per cent of India's primary aluminium production. Indo Gulf, on the other hand, is India's largest copper maker.
