Undertaken under the Government’s
GPWIS scheme, the move will also ensure faster turnaround
Vedanta Aluminium, India's
largest producer of aluminium, has inducted the Bogie Open Bottom Rapid
discharge railway wagon with pneumatic door opening actuators (BOBRN) into the
logistics system for coal transportation at its smelters in Jharsuguda, Odisha
and Korba, Chhattisgarh. This initiative has been undertaken as part of the
General Purpose Wagon Investment Scheme (GPWIS) launched by the Indian
Railways, and will help in achieving enhanced operational efficiency and
furthering sustainability goals.
The BOBRN type of railway
wagons are designed to transport bulk quantities of coal between usage
locations such as thermal power plants and ports. Uniquely, they can be
unloaded from the bottom of the wagon directly into hopper pits, resulting in
an efficient and rapid unloading process and reducing the turnaround time
involved in material delivery.
Vedanta Aluminium operates
the world’s largest aluminium plant in Jharsuguda and India’s iconic smelter,
BALCO, at Korba, both of which require a continuous and reliable supply of
power. The introduction of the BOBRN rake will, therefore, enable the company
to improve the materialization of linkage coal, ensuring a steady and efficient
supply for its operations. By leveraging the advantages of rail transportation,
it will also be able to reduce overall production costs and optimize its supply
chains. The move will also enable Vedanta Aluminium to significantly decrease
its carbon footprint by relying on rail instead of road transportation via
trucks, since rail movement has a lower per-ton CO2 emission rate.
Currently, Vedanta
Aluminium operates four BOBRN captive coal rakes across its operations, and
plans to expand its logistics capacity further by adding four additional rakes.
This expansion will not only further boost operational efficiencies but also
contribute towards the company's efforts to integrate sustainable practices.
Commenting on the
initiative, Mr. Sunil Gupta, Chief
Operating Officer - Vedanta Aluminium, said, “The induction of the BOBRN
rake is a significant milestone in our operations. It will improve our rail
coefficient, reduce turnaround times, and help ensure more reliable coal
transportation, while significantly reducing costs and emissions. We are proud
to contribute to the wider effort nationally to boost sustainability and energy
efficiency, further reinforcing our focus on operational excellence.”
Speaking about the
significance of the initiative, Mr.
Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director, BALCO, said, “This step reinforces our
commitment to enhancing operational efficiency while staying aligned with our
sustainability goals. The inclusion of BOBRN rakes have been instrumental in
establishing a more robust supply chain while progressing towards the goal to
become net zero by 2050."
Vedanta Aluminium has
adopted a two-pronged approach of both reducing and offsetting its carbon
footprint. These include measures such as increasing the quantum of renewables
in its energy mix, enhancing its manufacturing excellence to optimise resource
utilization and reduce wastage, and transitioning to low-carbon energy sources
such as biofuels. Its smelters have been certified by the Aluminium Stewardship
Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standards, a globally acknowledged indicator of
sustainable operations.
Vedanta Aluminium, a
business of Vedanta Limited, is India's largest producer of aluminium,
manufacturing more than half of India's aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in
FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical
applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P
Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the
aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development
practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power
plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications
of aluminium as the 'Metal of the Future' for a greener tomorrow.
