Orissa has given its nod for leasing a new bauxite mine in the state's Koraput district to state owned National Aluminum Company Limited.

Mr AMR Dalwai state Steel and Mines Secretary said that the state government has leased the Potangi bauxite mine to the company and recommended it to the central government for final approval.

The new mine which has deposits of over 70 million tonnes of bauxite is located about 8 kilometers from Nalco's existing bauxite mine at Panchapatmali hills in Koraput some 370 kilometers from here.

NALCO is Asia's largest integrated aluminum producer. The bauxite from Panchpatmali mine feeds its refinery at Damanjodi town. The Panchpatmali mine which started with over 300 million tonnes of bauxite deposits, can only last for the next 20 to 25 years and bauxite from the new mine was essential for the survival of the refinery.

A senior company official said that it will take at least three to 5 years to start the new mine after NALCO gets approval from the central government.

(Sourced from www.odishatoday.com)