Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee [ Images ] on Tuesday ruled out divestment in the public sector National Aluminium Company [ Get Quote ] for the time being.

Vajpayee made the announcement while addressing a gathering after laying the foundation of the regional All India [ Images ] 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.