Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium, recognized as India’s largest aluminium producer, is actively pursuing a comprehensive strategy for decarbonization, showcasing both ambitious goals and innovative approaches. The company is positioning itself as a leader in sustainability within the global aluminium industry, integrating various aspects of responsible business operations into its core.
A pivotal element of this strategy is an accelerated energy transition, facilitated by a long-term collaboration with Serentica Renewables. Through this partnership, Vedanta Aluminium is securing 1335MW of renewable energy to power its extensive operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. This significant step is designed to help the company achieve its target of having renewables constitute 30% of its power consumption by 2030, a crucial milestone on its journey towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
Further complementing these efforts, Vedanta is forging strategic alliances and implementing innovative solutions to transform the broader industry. An example is its partnership with GAIL (India) Limited to procure natural gas, a cleaner fuel, for its casthouse operations. The company is also making substantial strides in emissions reduction through biomass co-firing. At its Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha and BALCO smelter in Chhattisgarh, agricultural residue-based biomass briquettes are being used for co-firing. In Lanjigarh alone, the daily co-firing of 20 tonnes of biomass is projected to cut over 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions annually. This initiative not only benefits the environment but also supports local farmers by creating a market for agricultural waste, transforming a potential pollution issue into a sustainable livelihood for rural communities. Such interventions are strategically designed to enhance energy efficiency and diversify Vedanta’s energy portfolio with low-carbon alternatives.
Vedanta’s commitment to decarbonization extends beyond energy generation to encompass plant logistics and mobility. The company has pledged to decarbonize 100% of its light motor vehicle fleet by 2030. As part of this endeavor, it has introduced India’s first 10-ton electric forklift at its mega aluminium plant in Jharsuguda and now operates the nation’s largest fleet of electric lithium-ion forklifts, significantly reducing diesel consumption and emissions across its operations. The push for electric mobility is further reinforced by a recent partnership with Let’s DriEV, launched in Vedanta’s Jharsuguda township to encourage electric vehicle adoption among employees and residents. Additionally, Vedanta is exploring the use of biodiesel in its commercial vehicle fleet, conducting successful pilot runs to assess its feasibility, demonstrating the company’s openness to innovation and new solutions aligned with its decarbonization objectives.
What truly distinguishes Vedanta’s approach is its seamless integration of sustainability with community development. Through awareness programs on significant environmental occasions such as World Environment Day and International Day for Biological Diversity, the company engages with local communities via environmental awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, fostering a culture of sustainability from the ground up.
Vedanta Aluminium’s robust sustainability efforts have garnered significant recognition. The company ranked 2nd in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 among global aluminium companies. Its aluminium smelters have received certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standards for their sustainable operations. Furthermore, Vedanta Aluminium’s product range has obtained Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verification, signifying its sustainably produced nature.
Vedanta Aluminium’s multi-faceted approach to sustainability serves as a compelling model for how major industrial entities can spearhead climate action today. By leveraging various strategies, including renewable energy, cleaner fuels, electric mobility, and community-centric initiatives, the company is not only mitigating its environmental impact but also establishing a benchmark for responsible industrial growth in India.