Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of World Environment Day, Indian mining and metals company Vedanta Ltd announced a series of initiatives aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. The company said it is exploring the use of biodiesel in its commercial vehicle fleet at its Jharsuguda township in Odisha following successful pilot tests, according to the PTI.
Vedanta Aluminium also reaffirmed its goal to transition 100% of its light motor vehicle fleet to cleaner alternatives by 2030.
As part of its decarbonisation push, the company has started using biomass briquettes made from agricultural waste for co-firing at its Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha and the BALCO smelter in Chhattisgarh. At the Lanjigarh unit, 20 tonnes of biomass are co-fired daily, which reduces over 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions annually.
In another step toward clean energy, Vedanta introduced a 10-tonne electric forklift at its Jharsuguda aluminium plant and now operates a growing fleet of electric lithium-ion forklifts, significantly lowering its diesel use and associated emissions.
The company also launched a partnership with Let’s DriEV in Jharsuguda to encourage electric vehicle use among employees and township residents.
“From responsible sourcing to energy-efficient operations, our focus is on sustainable growth that benefits both business and the planet,” said Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium. “Our aim is to lead the global aluminium sector by setting new benchmarks for environmentally responsible practices.”
