Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday ruled out divestment in the public sector National Aluminium Company for the time being.
Vajpayee made the announcement while addressing a gathering after laying the foundation of the regional All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Sijua, 14 km from Bhubaneswar.
There has been considerable opposition to the Centre's move to divest the profit-making company, which has held the centrestage in Orissa politics for a long time, with all central trade unions planning to hold country-wide protests on July 18.
The prime minister also referred to another mega project hanging fire in Orissa - Paradip Oil Refinery - and assured the gathering that the project would be completed soon.
The Centre is keen to implement the project with the assistance of the state government, he said.