Write a brief note on Aluminium smelting industry in India.
(1) Qualities : It is light, resistant to corrosion, a good conductor of heat and malleable. It becomes strong when it is mixed with other metals. (2) Uses : It is used to manufacture aircraft, utensils and wires. It is also used as a substitute of steel, copper, zinc and lead in a number of industries. (3)Position of Aluminium : Aluminium smelting is the second important metallurgical industry in India. There are eight aluminium smelting plants in India. These are located in Orissa (Nalco and Balco), West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. In 2004, India produced over 600 million tons of aluminium. Factors for the location of the industry are regular supply of electricity and an assured source of raw materials e., bauxite at the minimum cost.
