Bauxite in India

Basic Facts (Prelims Focus)

• Definition: Bauxite = aluminous rock containing hydrated aluminium oxides (gibbsite, boehmite, diaspore) + iron oxide (hematite/goethite) + silica (clay/quartz) + titania (rutile/leucoxene).
• Main Use: Principal ore of aluminium; also used in refractory, cement, chemical industries.

Reserves & Resources

• Total (as on 1.4.2020): 4,958 MT (646 MT proved reserves, 4311 MT remaining resources).
• By Grade:
  • Metallurgical grade: ~79%
  • Refractory & Chemical grades: ~4%
• By State (share of total resources):
  1. Odisha – 41%
  2. Chhattisgarh – 20%
  3. Andhra Pradesh – 12%
  4. Gujarat – 8%
  5. Jharkhand – 6%
  6. Maharashtra – 5%
  7. Madhya Pradesh – 4%

Production Trends (2022–23)

• Total production: 23.84 MT (↑ 6% from previous year).
• Mines: 160 reporting mines; 61 producers.
• Top producer: NALCO (31%); PSUs ~46% share.
• Grade-wise production:
  • 82% → 40–45% Al₂O₃ grade
  • 10% → Cement grade
  • 6% → 45–50% Al₂O₃
• Leading state producer: Odisha (73% of national output).
• Employment: Avg. 6,537 persons.
• Leases: 318 leases covering 22,334 ha.

Uses & Specifications

• Aluminium industry: Bayer process (≥40% Al₂O₃).
• Steel industry: Slag corrector (45–54% Al₂O₃, ≤5% SiO₂).
• Refractory industry: IS:10817–1984 standards.
• Chemical & Petroleum industries: IS:3605–1984 standards.

Substitutes

• No large-scale substitute for Al extraction.
• Alternatives for refractory/abrasives: calcined clay, sillimanite, magnesite–chromite, synthetic mullite, silicon carbide (costlier).
• Potential alumina sources: alunite, anorthosite, oil shales, coal wastes.

Trade (2022–23)

• Exports: ↓ 53% to 0.18 MT (mainly to Nepal, Kuwait, Oman).
• Imports: ↑ 20% to 3.6 MT (mainly from Guinea – 88%, Sierra Leone – 9%).
• Policy: Free import/export (no restrictions).

Global Scenario

• World reserves: ~31 BT (2022).
• Major reserves: Guinea (24%), Vietnam (19%), Australia (16%), Brazil (9%).
• India: ~2% of world reserves.
• Top producers (2022): Guinea (26%), Australia (25%), China (19%), Brazil (9%), Indonesia (7%), India (6%).

Future Outlook (India)

• Production to reach ~50.7 MT by 2027 (FITCH estimate).
• Aluminium industry expanding due to:
  • Abundant bauxite reserves
  • Energy resources (coal-based power)
  • Skilled workforce
• Demand drivers: Electric Vehicles, Aviation, Defence, Renewable Energy, Green Buildings, Consumer goods.
• Aluminium critical for clean technologies & sustainable energy systems.
  
  Source : Government of India, Ministry of Mines, Indian Minerals Yearbook 2023 
  Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur, January 2025.
  Issued by the Controller General, Indian Bureau of Mines.