BALCO and UltraTech Cement collaborate towards manufacture of low-carbon cement
1st June 2024
- As part of the collaboration, BALCO will supply 75,000 metric-tonnes of fly ash to UltraTech Cement
Balconagar, 01st June, 2024: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a part of Vedanta Aluminium, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UltraTech Cement Limited towards the manufacture of low-carbon cement. Under this strategic partnership, BALCO will dispatch 75,000 metric tonnes of fly ash to UltraTech Cement, which will be utilised in the production of cement with a lower carbon footprint. BALCO is a preferred supplier of high-quality fly ash to some of India’s leading cement producers, fostering industrial collaboration towards achieving circular economy.
Fly ash is a by-product generated during the production of thermal power, which caters to the electricity requirements of BALCO’s aluminium plant at Korba. It is a sought-after raw material in the cement industry owing to its inherent cementitious properties, and offers numerous benefits, including reduced water consumption, improved workability, enhanced mechanical properties, and increased durability. Further, being a voluminous industrial by-product, fly ash comes with significant cost and energy advantages as well. In cement manufacturing, every tonne of fly-ash used can help save around 700-800 kg of carbon emissions, 4.2 million KJ of energy, and 341 litres of water.
Fly ash also has several applications beyond cement, including brick manufacturing, road construction, and infrastructure projects. India’s fast-growing economy is witnesses large-scale projects, creating significant scope for the increased usage of fly ash. The high-quality coal used at BALCO’s power plants produces low-sulphur, high-quality ash, making it ideal for cement production, brick manufacturing, road construction, and infrastructure projects. In FY24 alone, BALCO supplied over 4 million metric tonnes to support other industries, achieving an impressive 150% utilization of the fly ash generated through its operations.
Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO, BALCO, stated, “At BALCO, we are committed to advancing circular economy initiatives to ensure the effective utilization of industrial by-products. Strategic collaborations like these offer multiple benefits, including enhanced quality, sustainability, and cost advantages for cement manufacturing, while also aiding in effective waste management. Our waste-to-wealth initiatives aim to develop thriving value chains that convert our by-products into valuable resources for other industries, maximizing resource efficiency and promoting environmental sustainability.”
Mr. Praveen Kumar, Sr. General Manager – RM & Fuels East Cluster, UltraTech Cement, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the mutual benefits it brings. “Partnering with BALCO aligns with our commitment to sustainable practices. Fly ash utilization in cement production not only enhances product quality but also supports our sustainability efforts.”
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 51% by Vedanta Limited and 49% by the Government of India. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. BALCO operates a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfills its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
About Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company’s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programmes with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com
About Vedanta Aluminium Business:
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.
For more information, please log on to www.vedantaaluminium.com
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