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CASE STUDY OF RIO TINTO ALCAN’S ALUMINA TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER APPROACH APPLIED SUCCESSFULLY TO HINDALCO’S GREENFIELD UTKAL REFINERY IN ODISHA, INDIA

Kumar, S. Perret, Y. Livadaris, D. Pucci, P. Sapra, V. Mohan, M. Giri, U.

Rio Tinto Alcan’s (RTA) alumina technology platform, built on the best available features of Bayer Process Technologies practiced by ex-Alcan, Pechiney, Alusuisse and Comalco, is available for application to 3rd party Greenfield refinery projects. With experience gathered from its own operations and 3rd party refineries operating around the world, RTA’s technology transfer for Green or Brownfield projects is supported by key project life cycle and Operations Readiness activities, featuring laboratory testwork on a given bauxite feedstock, process modelling, basic engineering, support during detailed engineering, off- and on-site training, support during commissioning, start-up and ramp-up of the refinery followed by performance guarantee tests and technical assistance for achieving design operating parameters.

This paper presents a case study demonstrating the key requirements for the successful transfer of RTA’s alumina technology to Hindalco’s Utkal Alumina International Limited 1.5 MTPA Greenfield refinery in Odisha, India, commissioned during 2nd half of 2013 and was operating at around 1 MTPA rate within a year.