Vedanta Aluminium deploys IIoT technology in power plant to improve emissions control

17th April 2023

New Delhi; 17th April 2023: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has augmented its 2400 MW Thermal Power Plant with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices in fabric filters to improve emissions control. Fabric filters are special bag filters placed after electrostatic precipitators in chimneys to collector particulate matter from the hot gas emanating from the power plant boiler system, stopping them from escaping into the atmosphere. The differential pressure between the bags plays a pivotal role in improving the efficiency of the filters. This is the 3rd line of defense in capturing particulate matter and gases, which significantly improves the air quality. The company has moved from the traditional way of measuring differential pressure through transmitters to using IIoT devices for precise monitoring and immediate action.

Customised applications of leading-edge technologies across the value-chain are helping Vedanta Aluminium exercise stringent control on operational parameters to bolster ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) performance. This includes a laser focus on environmental parameters such as energy conservation, carbon reduction, air quality, water sustainability, circular waste management, and biodiversity.

Highlights of the company’s sustainability journey include:

  • Reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity (Scope 1 + Scope 2) from 19.3 tCO2e/MT in FY21 to 17.6 tCO2e/MT in FY22, which is the lowest amongst primary aluminium producers in India
  • Launched first low carbon ‘green’ aluminium from India, branded Restora
  • India’s largest industrial consumer of renewable energy at 3 Billion Units
  • Signed Power Delivery Agreement for 380 MW of renewable power supply to aluminium smelters
  • Reduced GHG emissions intensity by 24% in FY 2022, from 2012 baseline
  • Commissioned India’s largest fleet of lithium-ion battery powered EV forklifts
  • Ranked 2nd in Dow Jones Sustainability Index world rankings for the aluminium industry in 2022
  • Conserved more than 827 million litres of water in FY22, in the journey towards water positive operations
  • Vedanta’s subsidiary BALCO was recently awarded the ‘PAT Top Performer’ award for its efforts towards energy conservation under the Government of India’s Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) Scheme
  • Vedanta’s Smelter-I in Jharsuguda (Odisha) was the national benchmark in water efficiency amongst aluminium producers, with the lowest amount of water consumer per tonne of metal produced in FY22
  • All of Vedanta Aluminium’s business units have robust Environment Management Systems (EMS) adhering to ISO 14001:2015

Speaking about Vedanta Aluminium’s endeavours to bolster ESG excellence, Mr. Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Limited – Aluminium Business, said, “We are committed to further improving our environmental sustainability performance through a structured approach that includes adoption of best-in-industry practices, leading-edge digital technologies, consistent improvements in efficiency of resource-intensive processes, circular initiatives and incorporation of ‘Design for Sustainability’ principles into our operations. In our journey as India’s largest aluminium producer and the world’s second most sustainable aluminium company, we are striving to emerge as the industry benchmark in operational excellence and environmental performance, as we add value to our customers, communities and country.”

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its 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.

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., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. 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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This press release contains “forward-looking statements” – that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “should” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets including the London Metal Exchange, fluctuations in interest and or exchange rates and metal prices; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.