In a surprise move, a state owned Aluminum smelting plant near Kalimantan has formally requested Indian Public Sector Utility (PSU) Company National Aluminum Corporation (NALCO) to take over its plant. The smelting unit is located near large coal reserves but is short of aluminum. On the other hand, even after its USD 1 billion expansion plan, NALCO will have several million tons of alumina leftover. The Department of Mines, while cautioning NALCO on takeover is also encouraging an international presence. As one of the largest aluminum manufacturers and exporters, NALCO is actively considering a USD 3 billion plant in Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. West Asian countries are ideal for smelting as the cost of electricity is low which makes up 60% of the cost of smelting. The Department of Mines is asking NALCO to process 80% of its surplus alumina for domestic markets and the rest 20% for exports. Like all PSUs, NALCO is cash, productivity, and technology starved and these investments are major resuscitating options for it.