Vedanta's Sterlite Tuticorin copper smelter to increase capacity to 400,000 tpa

Vedanta Resources PLC said production volumes for aluminium, zinc and copper - India during the six months to Sept 30 2006 were higher than the same period a year earlier due to the progressive commissioning of the new Korba II smelter and the ramp up of the new Tuticorin and Chanderiya smelters in the second half of the last financial year.

The de-bottlenecking project at the Tuticorin copper smelter to enhance capacity to 400,000 tpa is progressing well and will be completed by December 2006, the group said.

Vedanta said its Phase II expansion projects are progressing on schedule with orders for critical equipment and packages placed. The alumina refinery at Lanjigarh is in the final run-up for commissioning.

The group also said the inventory build up at the end of the last quarter has been largely sold down during the current quarter.

Source: Life Style Extra, London