News Article
NALCO interested in sourcing technology supplier for gallium extraction plant
The plant is to be set up at the firm's Alumina Refinery located at Damanjodi, Odisha, India through a JV or standalone
National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) is interested in sourcing a suitable and low cost technology supplier for setting up a gallium extraction unit/plant in the company's Alumina Refinery located at Damanjodi, Odisha through a Joint Venture or standalone having gallium metal purity of ≥ 99.99 % (4N+).
The capacity of the plant will be of around ten tonnes per annum, low cost and economically viable with state of the art environment friendly technology environment standard.
For this purpose NALCO invites Expression of Interest (EOI) from interested and competent manufacturers, and technology suppliers interested in providing technology for extraction of gallium from Nalco Bayer liquor (intermediate process liquor generated from Digestion of bauxite by the "Bayer" process) and having expertise in production and marketing of metallic gallium or gallium compounds.
On receiving proposals from the parties again, a fresh tender will be floated to the shortlisted parties for selection of the suitable technology provider on gallium extraction from Bauxitic resources.
NALCO was incorporated in 1981 following a major investment decision by the Government of India to exploit a part of the Bauxite deposit discovered in the East Coast of India.
The company says it has charted an excellent track record in both physical and financial performance, and has been listed in the LME (London Metal exchange).Recently, the company was conferred the “Nav Ratna”(literally Nine Jewels} by the Government of India, in recognition of its consistent performance over the years, hereby incorporating higher investment and operational autonomy.
NALCO is operating a multi-location Bauxite Mines-Alumina-Aluminium complex along with a Captive Power Plant, in the State of Odisha, India. A major expansion programme (1st phase) was completed in 2001. The Phase-2 expansion was finished in July, 2012 and upgrading activity of the Refinery after Phase 2 expansion been completed.
Mines up-gradation is currently ongoing.
The company is listed on National Stock Exchange of India and Mumbai stock exchange
The process of extraction of Alumina from its mineral bauxite in caustic liquor solution is commonly known as the "Bayer" process. Bauxite received from Mines is either stacked in stock pile or fed directly to secondary crusher for size reduction. Secondary crushed bauxite from Silo is fed to Ball Mill along with caustic liquor for grinding.
Ground bauxite slurry after Pre-desilication is digested at atmospheric pressure (temperature 105 - 106 degree C) for extraction of alumina.
Undigested bauxite is separated as Red mud. Aluminate liquor is cooled to precipitate ATH (alumina trihydrate) which is calcined to produce alumina.
Gallium dissolves in liquid phase and get enriched with time as NALCO is not extracting gallium metal or any compound till now. But some amount of gallium is escaping from the plant liquor during discharge of red mud as well as with product alumina.
The capacity of the plant will be of around ten tonnes per annum, low cost and economically viable with state of the art environment friendly technology environment standard.
For this purpose NALCO invites Expression of Interest (EOI) from interested and competent manufacturers, and technology suppliers interested in providing technology for extraction of gallium from Nalco Bayer liquor (intermediate process liquor generated from Digestion of bauxite by the "Bayer" process) and having expertise in production and marketing of metallic gallium or gallium compounds.
On receiving proposals from the parties again, a fresh tender will be floated to the shortlisted parties for selection of the suitable technology provider on gallium extraction from Bauxitic resources.
NALCO was incorporated in 1981 following a major investment decision by the Government of India to exploit a part of the Bauxite deposit discovered in the East Coast of India.
The company says it has charted an excellent track record in both physical and financial performance, and has been listed in the LME (London Metal exchange).Recently, the company was conferred the “Nav Ratna”(literally Nine Jewels} by the Government of India, in recognition of its consistent performance over the years, hereby incorporating higher investment and operational autonomy.
NALCO is operating a multi-location Bauxite Mines-Alumina-Aluminium complex along with a Captive Power Plant, in the State of Odisha, India. A major expansion programme (1st phase) was completed in 2001. The Phase-2 expansion was finished in July, 2012 and upgrading activity of the Refinery after Phase 2 expansion been completed.
Mines up-gradation is currently ongoing.
The company is listed on National Stock Exchange of India and Mumbai stock exchange
The process of extraction of Alumina from its mineral bauxite in caustic liquor solution is commonly known as the "Bayer" process. Bauxite received from Mines is either stacked in stock pile or fed directly to secondary crusher for size reduction. Secondary crushed bauxite from Silo is fed to Ball Mill along with caustic liquor for grinding.
Ground bauxite slurry after Pre-desilication is digested at atmospheric pressure (temperature 105 - 106 degree C) for extraction of alumina.
Undigested bauxite is separated as Red mud. Aluminate liquor is cooled to precipitate ATH (alumina trihydrate) which is calcined to produce alumina.
Gallium dissolves in liquid phase and get enriched with time as NALCO is not extracting gallium metal or any compound till now. But some amount of gallium is escaping from the plant liquor during discharge of red mud as well as with product alumina.
