Vedanta Aluminium scales up wire rod production to power India’s 5G and infrastructure growth

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, JUNE 19, 2025

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, announced a significant expansion in aluminium wire rod production at its Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) unit. The move is part of the company’s broader strategy to increase overall capacity to 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), aligning with the country’s rapid digital and industrial transformation.

India’s accelerated rollout of 5G networks, rural broadband, smart cities, and cloud infrastructure has triggered a sharp rise in demand for high-performance aluminium wire rods — essential for efficient signal transmission and network reliability. Aluminium, with its superior conductivity, corrosion resistance, and light weight, is emerging as the material of choice for this digital revolution.

BALCO produced over 200,000 tonnes of aluminium wire rods in FY25, entirely for domestic consumption, particularly in high-growth states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Its diverse portfolio includes BIS-certified high-performance grades designed for critical applications such as power conductors, cable sheathing, tower grounding, and optical fibre cabling.

Notably, BALCO was the first Indian company to receive the BIS 5484 certification for alloy wire rods, reinforcing its position as an industry leader in innovation and quality. With telecom and power transmission sectors driving demand amid India’s energy diversification and urbanisation push, BALCO is nearing completion of key projects that will double its production capacity from 0.57 MTPA to 1 MTPA.

“Aluminium wire rods are indispensable for building a resilient, future-ready digital backbone for India,” said Rajiv Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium. “Our BIS-certified product range meets the evolving needs of the telecom and power sectors, and with BALCO’s capacity expansion, we are well-positioned to meet growing demand while advancing our sustainability goals.”

Beyond telecom and energy, BALCO’s aluminium wire rods also serve critical roles in the automotive, steel, and electrical appliance industries — further contributing to India’s industrial growth.

Vedanta Aluminium, a division of Vedanta Limited, produced 2.42 million tonnes of aluminium in FY25 — over half of India’s total production. Recognised globally for its sustainability efforts, the company ranked second in the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment for the aluminium sector. Through its integrated operations — comprising world-class smelters, a refinery, and power plants — Vedanta Aluminium is shaping aluminium’s future as the metal of choice for a greener tomorrow.