Indian companies like Hindalco, National Aluminium Co (Nalco) are planning to spruce up their aluminium production capacity.

Media reports suggest that by March-April, Hindalco would start commissioning its 1.5-million-tonne (mn t) Utkal alumina refinery project in Odisha and 359-kilo-tonne (kt) Mahan aluminium smelter in Madhya Pradesh.

The company's 1.5-mn t Aditya alumina refinery and 359-kt smelter project in Odisha will be up and running by mid-2013.

Meanwhile, a 1-mn t smelter project is proposed to be set up by National Aluminium Co (Nalco) in Gujarat besides a 1.4-mn t smelter in Andhra Pradesh.

The state-run firm also plans to expand its flagship Jharsuguda plant in Odisha. Media reports suggest that Indian aluminium firms have an upper hand compared to its global peers solely because they have captive raw materials such as bauxite and coal.

Praveen Maheshwari, Chief Financial Officer of Hindalco, said the demand for aluminium in India was still growing faster than the gross domestic product and the newer capacities would definitely find market locally. World aluminium consumption has slowed down and is expected to be only eight per cent in 2012 against 15.2 per cent in 2011, said Debu Bhattacharya, Managing Director, Hindalco.