Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 - The state-owned National Aluminium Co Ltd (NALCO) Friday said it has got the mining lease approval to build a 1.4 million tonne greenfield alumina refinery in Andhra Pradesh.

'The government of India has accorded prior approval for the mining lease proposals of the government of Andhra Pradesh for awarding lease to NALCO over Gudem and Katamraju Konda bauxite blocks in Andhra Pradesh,' the company said in a release.

Earlier, Andhra Pradesh had recommended to the central government grant of mining lease in favour of NALCO.

The mines under consideration have an estimated 85 million tonnes of bauxite reserves.

NALCO, Asia's largest integrated aluminium producer, plans to build the 1.4 million tonne greenfield alumina refinery based on the Gudem and KR Konda bauxite deposits in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh at an estimated investment of Rs.6,000 crore.

This is part of its ambitious plan 'to be a reputed global company in the metals and energy sectors'.

NALCO is India's largest alumina producer and third largest aluminium maker. It produced 1,576,500 tonnes of alumina and 361,262 tonnes of aluminium in 2008-09.