Vedanta Aluminium poised to make Odisha the ‘aluminium capital’ of the World

Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium, a pioneering force in Odisha’s industrial landscape, has played an instrumental role in establishing the State as the ‘Aluminium Capital of India’ and setting it well on the path of becoming the ‘Aluminium Capital of the World’.

The company’s confidence in the State’s immense potential is underscored by its extensive operations and being the largest investor in the State. At an astonishing Rs 1,00,000 crore, Vedanta’s combined investment in Odisha is its largest anywhere in the world.

Aluminium, widely hailed as the metal of the future, has been identified as a critical metal for emerging green technologies, which will power India’s Net Zero Carbon journey. Vedanta’s aluminium is used in critical sectors such as aerospace, national defence, infrastructure, electrification, automobiles, consumer durables, packaging, and beyond, critical to the country’s self-reliance. The company is also adding new product lines to cater to sunrise sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), renewables, hi-tech manufacturing and space exploration.

Odisha is key to shaping the rise of the domestic aluminium industry, and India’s industrial and economic future. According to the Indian Minerals Year Book 2021, the State accounts for 41 per cent of the bauxite (aluminium ore) resources in the country, making it an essential hub for the global aluminium value chain.

Owing to its versatile properties, aluminium demand in India is expected to double from 4 MTPA to 10 MTPA by 2030, which will require fresh investments of over Rs 4 lakh crores across the entire value chain. India’s per capita aluminium consumption is only about 3 kgs, which is much below the global average of 11 kg per capita. As India grows to become a $5-trillion economy, aluminium demand will rise significantly. Odisha therefore stands well-poised to meet this opportunity.

Vedanta Aluminium’s operations in Odisha have put India on the map as a formidable aluminium producer. At the heart of this transformation lies the company’s operations in Odisha. Its smelting facility in Jharsuguda, with a capacity of 1.8 million tonnes per annum, stands as the sole Indian smelter in the prestigious global 1 million tonne club. The company also operates a world-class 2 MTPA alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, Odisha. The company is also looking at operationalising its mines to become fully integrated and competitively serve the rising demand for green metal.

The company’s diverse product range, one of the largest in the world, serves customers in 50+ countries across various sectors. Its commitment to quality is evident in the company being the first in the Indian aluminium industry to obtain all applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certifications for its primary aluminium products. Nearly all of Vedanta Aluminium’s products are made in Odisha, enabling the state to emerge as a global manufacturing hub for the world.

The company’s unwavering commitment to sustainability has garnered global recognition, with its Jharsuguda smelter receiving certification from the prestigious Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This acknowledgement underscores the company’s dedication to global sustainability standards. Additionally, their products bear the endorsement of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) International, a testament to their high environmental sustainability standards.

The extent of Vedanta’s operations ensures that its contributions to Odisha’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) are substantial, accounting for nearly 4% of the state’s GSDP. Beyond the economic sphere, Vedanta Aluminium’s social impact programs reach nearly 200 remote villages, thereby benefiting more than 3 lakh people in rural India annually. Their interventions encompass education, healthcare, livelihood, rural infrastructure, grassroots sports, and the promotion of art and culture.

Vedanta Aluminium has played a direct role in making India a global manufacturing powerhouse, and a viable alternative to China and Russia, the other large aluminium producers. The company’s sequel dedication to business excellence and sustainable growth continues to be a torchbearer for the nation’s industrial prowess, while also helping it move the needle from import dependence to total self-reliance.