Calcutta, Dec 3 :    Calcutta, Dec 3:  Indian Aluminium & Co (Indal) is planning to double the smelting capacity in its Hirakud plant from the existing 30,000 tonnes per annum. Sources said that the board of directors have already discussed the several aspects of this brown field expansion. Indian Aluminium plans to consolidate the smelting capacities mostly in the Hirakud plant due to availability of captive power and coal. 'Power is a major component in smelting operations. Hence, the cost of production escalates if it is not obtained from cheaper sources,' said a senior Indian Aluminium official. Also, there is a rich storehouse of raw materials in Orissa. Other smelters of Indal are located in two plants in Alupuram and Belgaum. While the Belgaum smelter has been shut down for over a year because of power problem, the company is also not very keen to continue production in Alupuram plant, which has a capacity of 13,000 tonnes, the official said. The company is in talks with the Karnataka State Electricity Board for power requirements of the Belgaum smelter. If the Belgaum smelter is re-opened, Indian Aluminium may close down the smelter in Alupuram. 'We have to go by the economics of scale, especially in a market which is poised for fierce competition globally,' he added. The official, however, did not divulge what could be the possible investment for the expansion project in Hirakud. He is bullish about the prospects of the Hirakud plant with the industrial slowdown beginning to die down. 'We are planning to expand the capacity in Hirakud plant with a long term approach since it needs heavy investment particularly for setting up the captive power unit,' he added.