Vedanta Aluminium,
India’s largest producer of aluminium, has expanded its fleet of electric
lithium-ion forklifts to 66 units, strengthening its position as the largest
deployer of electric lithium-ion forklifts in India. The company has
successfully deployed an additional 22 electric forklifts at its smelter
operations in Jharsuguda, Odisha, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable
operations. This expansion bolsters the decarbonisation journey of Vedanta
Aluminium.
Speaking about this
initiative, John Slaven, CEO, Vedanta
Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, sustainability is a business
imperative. We continuously adopt innovative practices to enhance our
operational excellence. The deployment of 66 electric lithium-ion forklifts
marks a milestone in accelerating our transition to a Net Zero future.”
Deployed across Vedanta
Aluminium’s units in Jharsuguda and Lanjigarh in Odisha, as well as its BALCO
smelter in Chhattisgarh, these forklifts feature faster and safer battery
charging capabilities. This revolutionizes operational efficiency, while
significantly contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. The
introduction of electric lithium-ion forklifts helps mitigate the company’s
carbon footprint significantly, through:
• Potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by
approximately 2,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.
• Substantial reduction in diesel consumption, with estimated
savings of over 8.4 lakh litres per year.
The company has committed
to decarbonizing 100% of its light motor vehicle (LMV) fleet by 2030. This
ongoing effort stands as a testimony to Vedanta Aluminium’s constant endeavour
to evaluate and deploy emerging technologies towards decarbonising its
operations. Vedanta is among India’s pioneering companies to adopt sustainable
operational practices, particularly in material handling.
The expansion of electric
forklift fleet is yet another step Vedanta Aluminium’s journey to achieve Net
Zero by 2050. To fulfil this commitment, the company is adopting a two-fold
strategy of reducing its carbon footprint by increasing operational excellence
and increasing renewables in its energy mix, while also offsetting its carbon
footprint through extensive afforestation efforts. Through its operations, the
company is enabling wider global access to responsibly-produced, high-quality
aluminium to ensure a greener future for the planet.
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.
