NALCO Seeks Aluminium fluoride Partners as Angul Smelter Expands to 0.96 MTPA
Meta Description: NALCO issues EOI to set up aluminium fluoride production to secure raw material supply for Angul smelter capacity expansion from 0.46mtpa to 0.96mtpa and cut import reliance.
India’s National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has released an expression of interest (EOI) inviting manufacturers, investors and joint venture partners to build aluminium fluoride (AlF₃) production plants, supporting the capacity expansion of its Angul aluminium smelter. The smelter will increase annual output from 0.46 million tonnes to roughly 0.96 million tonnes per annum.
Aluminium fluoride is an essential feedstock for the Hall-Héroult electrolysis process in primary aluminium smelting. The planned facility will manufacture both high and low bulk density grades of the chemical. This initiative is designed to guarantee stable, cost-competitive aluminium fluoride supply and reduce NALCO’s dependence on imports.
Dated September 21, 2026, the EOI document sets the submission deadline for interested parties as October 30, 2026.
NALCO is evaluating multiple cooperation frameworks for the proposed plant. A joint venture located near the Angul smelter complex is the preferred model. Long-term strategic partnerships with guaranteed offtake agreements and other flexible collaboration structures are also under consideration. The move strengthens NALCO’s backward integration strategy ahead of the smelter’s major capacity expansion.
Qualified candidates must possess proven aluminium fluoride manufacturing expertise, secure feedstock access, existing supply track record with aluminium smelters and sound financial standing.
Following the EOI screening round, NALCO may launch a formal request for proposal and begin detailed JV negotiations. No partner has been selected yet, and the EOI marks only the initial stage of identifying suitable collaborators for the project.
