Bauxite shortage to halt operations in Lanjigarh

Vedanta Aluminium (VAL) has been forced to shut down its 1 mn tonne alumina refinery in Odisha due to shortage of bauxite. The refinery has been facing raw material shortage since its commencement in August 2007. It had entered into a JV with Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), which had a 78-mn tonne bauxite deposit at Niyamgiri Hills near Lanjigarh, for the sourcing of ore. But mining could not be taken up due to protests by locals and green groups.