By December 2014, National Aluminium Company (Nalco) plans to mine coal from its Utkal-E captive block project, which has been delayed because of lack of environment clearance. Nalco said this in its Annual Report for the last fiscal.

The company is taking steps to acquire government as well as private land, forest clearance, construct R&R colony and appoint MDO (mine-developer-operator) for the project.

The firm is awaiting the stage-I forest clearance for the block. Union government allotted this block to the state-owned aluminium firm in August 2004 in order to ensure coal availability to its captive power plant.

Out of 488.53 acre of forest land required for the project, the company faces hurdle in securing forest rights on nearly 71 acre. In June 2010, the firm secured forest rights certificate for 417.87 acre land.

Till March 2013, the firm invested Rs 118.72 crore on the project and has secured approval for mining plan, wildlife and environment clearances and coal ministry's permission for mining lease.