Vedanta Aluminium Lauds GoI’s Sardega-Bhalumuda Rail Line for Advancing Sustainable Coal Transportation
20th September 2024
- Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) to enable 100% rail-based coal evacuation from Odisha mines, complementing Vedanta Aluminium’s Net Zero Carbon ambitions
- This shift will help in eliminating road transport inefficiencies
New Delhi, September 20th 2024: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has welcomed the Government of India’s decision to facilitate the Sardega-Bhalumuda rail line connectivity project between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, an initiative aimed at streamlining coal transportation sustainably and efficiently. The project is sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). By replacing road transport with 100% rail-based coal evacuation from Vedanta’s Jamkhani and Ghogharpalli captive mines in Odisha, the project will significantly reduce the carbon footprint and expenditure associated with coal logistics. The 37 km rail line will streamline coal transport from the company’s coal mines, ensuring consistent coal quality and seamless logistics through rapid loading systems.
This development marks an important step in the company’s broader strategy towards achieving its Net Zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. This rail-based approach is a key driver in advancing the company’s broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, focused on decarbonizing operations and enhancing supply chain efficiency, as the company works towards a greener, more resource-efficient future. This development will help reduce road congestion, emissions, and fuel consumption.
About the development, John Slaven, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “We sincerely thank the Government of India for driving this landmark infrastructure project, which will greatly enhance the efficiency of our supply chain. This project marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts toward Net Zero by 2050. More importantly, this infrastructure will support regional industrial growth, benefiting local industries and creating meaningful economic opportunities for nearby communities.”
The rail line project is poised to generate new employment opportunities for local communities, particularly during its construction and operational phases. This infrastructure development is poised to boost regional industries by enhancing transport efficiency and attracting further investment. Beyond Vedanta Aluminium, the project will create positive ripple effects throughout the region, supporting industrial growth and contributing to the broader economic development of the area by streamlining logistics and reducing transportation inefficiencies.
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.
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
Follow us on LinkedIN, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Disclaimer:
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.
