Vedanta Aluminium showcases pioneering sustainability efforts at Odisha’s state-level World Environment Day event

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 7, 2025

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, underscored its commitment to sustainable development by presenting a powerful showcase of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives at the State-Level World Environment Day & Prakruti Mitra Award Ceremony. The event, held on June 5 at Krushi Shiksha Sadan in Bhubaneswar, was organised by the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha.

Bringing together key policymakers, environmental leaders, and industry representatives, the event served as a platform to highlight transformative efforts toward ecological preservation and climate resilience. Vedanta Aluminium’s dedicated stall drew significant attention, illustrating how responsible industrial operations can be harmoniously aligned with environmental stewardship.

Gracing the occasion, Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi visited Vedanta’s exhibit and appreciated the company’s extensive measures for ensuring sustainable operations. Also in attendance were Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Minister of Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Labour & ESI; Manoj Ahuja, Chief Secretary of Odisha and Chairman of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB); Uma Nanduri, Member Secretary, SPCB; and Dr. K. Murugesan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Nodal).

The centrepiece of Vedanta’s display was a working model of its aluminium plant at Jharsuguda, showcasing cutting-edge technologies such as the Hybrid Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) with Bag Filters — Odisha’s only such installation — designed to significantly minimize emissions. The model also demonstrated the plant’s Ash Railway Siding with Wind Barriers, promoting sustainable fly ash usage, and its advanced Effluent Treatment Plant integrated with Reverse Osmosis and Multiple Effect Evaporator (MEE) systems, enabling zero liquid discharge.

Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the company’s sustainability-driven mission: “Sustainability is at the core of our operational approach. We are aligned with India’s vision of a greener, self-reliant future, and remain committed to creating long-term value through responsible and inclusive growth. Events like these are vital platforms to share best practices, foster collaboration, and advance collective environmental progress.”

Echoing these sentiments, Sunil Gupta, COO of Vedanta Aluminium, said, “We are integrating a sustainability-first mindset into every facet of our operations. Our exhibit was designed to showcase how advanced technologies and innovative practices are helping us build the world’s most sustainable aluminium ecosystem.”

In commemoration of World Environment Day, the company also conducted large-scale plantation drives across its Odisha sites, planting over 1.2 lakh saplings. Public awareness activities, including street plays, employee-led events, and a nature photography exhibition, were also held to engage communities in environmental conservation.

Vedanta Aluminium has made significant strides in environmental sustainability, conserving over 16 billion litres of water in FY25 through rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and zero liquid discharge systems. Through its flagship initiative, Project Sangam, over 30 community waterbodies have been created in Lanjigarh, ensuring year-round irrigation for approximately 200 acres of farmland.

The company has achieved 133% fly ash utilization by collaborating with cement manufacturers, brick makers, and for mine backfilling. Over the past three years, more than 5.5 lakh trees have been planted around its operational areas in Odisha, reinforcing the region’s green cover and biodiversity.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, produced 2.42 million tonnes of aluminium in FY25, contributing over half of India’s total aluminium output. Globally recognized for its ESG leadership, the company ranked second in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium industry. With its state-of-the-art operations, Vedanta Aluminium continues to redefine sustainable industrial growth in India, positioning aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a cleaner and greener tomorrow.