IANS reported that National Aluminium Company has decided not to pursue its planned aluminium smelter and power plant in South Africa as it could not get coal linkage but will push a similar project in Iran.

The report cited Mr BL Bagra finance director of NALCO as saying that regarding the status of the proposed aluminium manufacturing project in Indonesia. He said that "We have just received analysis report on the coal availability and we are going to have a look at it."

The plant, conceived to produce 500,000 tonnes of aluminium using about 250 MW each from 5 power plants each was expected to commence construction in 2010. The project has been delayed because NALCO is estimated to require about 5 million tonnes of coal, which the firm has not managed to finalise yet.

(Sourced from IANS)