The Business Bytes
Bhubaneswar, November 2, 2024 (TBB Bureau): In accordance with the Ministry of Mines Office Order No. 2/2/2024-Met.I dated November 1, 2024, Shri Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, has assumed the role of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) on an interim basis, effective November 2, 2024. This temporary assignment follows the superannuation of Sridhar Patra, who served as CMD until his retirement on October 31, 2024.
It is learnt from reliable sources that Brajendra Pratap Singh, who was selected by the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) in September as the new CMD of NALCO, has, meanwhile, expressed his inability to take up the assignment. This unexpected development has led to Lohiya’s interim appointment as the Ministry of Mines and the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) work on a longer-term solution.
The appointment of Lohiya to this critical position ensures continuity in leadership and stability in operations for NALCO, India’s leading public sector aluminum production company. Lohiya will hold this additional charge until a regular appointee is selected by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, or until further orders from the Ministry of Mines. This interim arrangement will continue either until the appointment of a new CMD, the arrival of a permanent incumbent, or any further directive issued by the ACC, whichever comes first.
Sanjay Lohiya is expected to leverage his extensive experience within the ministry to steer NALCO’s ongoing projects and strategic initiatives, thus maintaining the momentum in NALCO’s production, expansion, and community welfare programs.
