The government will be unable to carry out the planned strategic sale of state-run National Aluminium Co, the country's second largest aluminium maker, in this fiscal year, a ministry official said on Tuesday.

"The strategic sale happening in the current year (April-March 2002-03) is not possible now," the divestment ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. He did not state a reason.

The government owns 87.15 per cent of Nalco. It has said it plans first to sell a 29.15 per cent stake and hand over management control to a strategic buyer.

It then wants to sell 10 per cent to domestic investors, 20 per cent through an American Depository Receipt issue and two per cent to the employees.

The official said the government also had "no firm plans for resuming plant visits" after due diligence by potential bidders was halted in October after workers opposed its privatisation.