Vedanta Aluminium Launches its maiden Sustainable Development Report

Industry Outlook Team | Tuesday, 08 June 2021

Vedanta Aluminium and Power Business, India’s largest producer of aluminium and its value-added products, unveiled its maiden Sustainable Development Report today. The report encapsulates the Business’ performance across key sustainability parameters such as Energy Management, Water Management, Biodiversity Management, Air Quality, Health & Safety, Social Impact and Governance etc for the FY 2019-20 performance period.

The Sustainable Development Report was inaugurated on World Environment Day and can be accessed on the business’ website www.vedantaaluminium.com

To mark the occasion, Mr. Rahul Sharma interacted with over a hundred students and faculty members of IIM Sambalpur in Odisha, where the company operates its largest aluminium complex and alumina refinery, over a virtual ‘Campus Connect’ session. The theme was ‘Sustainability in business operations and the bridge to Doing Well and Doing Good’. Mr. Rahul Sharma presented the Sustainability Report to Prof. M.P. Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur at the conclusion of the event.

Launching the Sustainability Report for the business, Mr Rahul Sharma, Dy. CEO, Aluminium Business, Vedanta Ltd said, “At Vedanta, good governance and sustainable development are the twin pillars that drive our business aspirations, leveraging best-in-class technologies, global best practices and our talented human capital. Our efforts are focused on creating sustained value along economic, environment and social dimensions, such as improving lives and livelihoods of our stakeholders and the local communities, ensuring sustained performance improvement in ESG (Environment, Social and Governance). With the Vedanta Group pledged to move towards carbon neutrality, we are determined in our approach to ensure responsible business growth that creates shared value for our country, customers and communities.”

Prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the report outlines Vedanta Aluminium & Power’s approach to sustainable and responsible development aligned to United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Principles and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). Key highlights from the report include:

• Operational excellence parameters for the production of aluminium

• Vedanta Aluminium generated and distributed economic value to the tune of USD 4.8 billion

• Over USD 14 million spent in community investments through social interventions in livelihood and skill development, women’s empowerment, quality education, health & sanitation, etc. improving lives of 3 lakh people hailing from local communities

• Recycling and reuse of wastewater generated at plants, resulting in 3.6 million m3 reduction in freshwater consumption over previous fiscal

• Vedanta’s aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda is India’s first, and the world’s third smelter to deploy Digital Smelter Solution. It uses digital twin technology, predictive and prescriptive analytics to enhance energy efficiency, reduce raw material consumption and arrest wastage of material through remote advisory system.

• 10.5 million units of renewable power was purchased by the business for consumption

• ‘Carbon Forum’ created at group level to proactively work on the company’s carbon mitigation approach.

• Partnered with Runaya LLC for 100% utilization of dross, a by-product of aluminium smelting, resulting in zero waste.

• More than 100% fly ash utilization for various purposes, including cement manufacturing, brick manufacturing and backfilling of mine void, etc.

• Rehabilitation of mined out areas of Mainpat and Bodai Daldali bauxite mines in Chhattisgarh with plantation of 2 million saplings and creation of water recharging structures

• With 12% women professionals, Vedanta Aluminium has one of the highest gender diversity ratios in the metal and mining sector in India.

• Since outbreak of COVID, Vedanta Aluminium has supported the local communities, district administrations, state governments, central government, with grocery supplies, PPEs, medical equipment, oxygen, financial contribution, and many other need-based requirements.

Overall, the Vedanta Aluminium & Power Business contributed nearly 1% to the GDP of India, through the induced impact of its entire value-chain, as reported by the Institute of Competitiveness (IFC). Aligned to Vedanta Limited’s pledge to move towards carbon neutrality, Vedanta Aluminium has directed initiatives under the three key pillars of workforce health and safety, climate change and environment management, and community and social performance for 2021 and beyond.

Speaking on the launch, Prof. M.P. Jaiswal said, “We are delighted to be a part of the momentous occasion where Vedanta Aluminium launched their first ever Sustainability Report. Industries have a vital role to play in shaping a greener future, and the report stands testimony to Vedanta’s commitment and sustainability efforts for a better tomorrow. The learnings from the report will help our students develop essential knowledge and understanding of sustainability and its key facets, in a business context. It will help orient them on how to map business aspirations to global sustainability and environment goals, for ensuring responsible and equitable development.”

Vedanta Aluminium & Power Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, with annual capacity of ~ 2.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Vedanta is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelters, power plants and alumina refinery spread across India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.