Aluminium smelting
Topic: Manufacturing Industries of India: Location and Distribution · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 6 "Manufacturing Industries"
Meaning
Aluminium smelting is India's second most important metallurgical industry. Aluminium is light, does not rust easily, conducts heat well and can be shaped easily. It becomes strong when mixed with other metals into alloys. It is used for aircraft, utensils and wires, and it replaces steel, copper, zinc and lead in many uses. It is made in two stages:
- In a refinery, bauxite is turned into alumina.
- In a smelter, alumina is turned into aluminium. This step uses a huge amount of electricity.
So NCERT names two prime location factors: a regular supply of cheap electricity and an assured supply of bauxite. NCERT lists plants in Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Example
Hindalco's plant at Renukoot in Uttar Pradesh sits near the hydel power of the Rihand dam and the coal of Singrauli. It shows aluminium being drawn to cheap power.
Don't confuse with
- Iron and steel industry: this is pulled mainly by heavy raw materials such as ore and coal. Aluminium smelting is pulled mainly by cheap power.