The Doppelmayr Group has received a contract for the construction of a RopeCon® system for the Aditya Alumina Refinery project, located in Kansariguda, Odisha, India. The RopeCon, the first of its kind in India, will start to transport bauxite in Q3 2027 and supports Hindalco’s commitment to implement eco-friendly and sustainable solutions.
This innovative aerial conveying system will cover a distance of approximately 2,300 m and a drop in elevation of -241 m across challenging and agricultural terrain by means of using just four towers. The RopeCon system will transport 1,500 t/h of bauxite and it will also be capable in the future of transporting tailings in the opposite direction.
The RopeCon will have a minimal footprint on the ground by flying over the landscape while respecting sufficient ground clearance at any time. In operation it will regenerate up to 907 kWh.
The bauxite is being transported from the Kansariguda mines of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) with whom Hindalco signed an MOU for the long term supply of raw material to the new refinery in 2023. The Aditya Alumina Refinery is being built by Larsen & Toubro, which announced it had been awarded the EPC contract in February 2025. The initial capacity will be 850,000 t/y of alumina.
The RopeCon combines proven ropeway engineering with continuous conveyor technology. It transports the material on a flat belt with corrugated side walls. The belt performs the haulage function. It is fixed to axles with plastic running wheels at either end. These run on track ropes with fixed anchoring and guide the belt. As in the case of an aerial ropeway, the track ropes are elevated off the ground on tower structures.
