Vedanta Lanjigarh fosters waste-to-wealth MSMEs in Kalahandi, Odisha

4th November 2022

Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, Odisha; November 4th, 2022: Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina, is fostering a plethora of waste-to-wealth MSMEs in Kalahandi district, Odisha. The company has been supplying lime grit to local brick manufacturers, helping turn industrial by-products into value-added products for a circular economy.

Lime grit is a by-product of refining bauxite (the ore of aluminium) to produce alumina (or aluminium oxide, an intermediary product in the production of aluminium). It has a variety of applications, from being used to whiten paper, to poultry feed and even as a close alternative to gypsum. Vedanta Lanjigarh produces around 10,500 metric tonnes of lime grit every year, out of which nearly half is reused within the plant in various operations. Similarly, thermal power generation within the company leads to the formation of fly ash, another industrial by-product. To ensure maximum utilization of both materials, the company has been supplying them to local brick manufacturers.

With similar properties as that of gypsum, lime grit is a good alternative in the manufacturing of fly ash bricks, without compromising on their strength and quality. This initiative of converting industrial by-products into circular materials, is both helping ensure environmental sustainability and creating avenues for sustainable livelihood in the region through development of rural enterprises. Initiatives such as these have seen the fly ash brick industry grow considerably in the region. From none a few years back, there are more than 20 such MSMEs just in the periphery of the company’s operations.

Speaking of the initiative, Mr GG Pal, Dy. CEO – Alumina Business, Vedanta Limited, said, “Our operations at Vedanta Lanjigarh are governed by the principles of Zero Waste and Zero Discharge. By creating circular economy value chains using industrial by-products like fly ash and lime grit, we are bringing together environmental excellence and community development for true sustainability. This initiative also fuels the entrepreneurial spirit of the local communities, inspiring them to be active participants in the region’s development.”

Vedanta Lanjigarh has promoted entrepreneurship in various ways in the region, be it by supporting locals in opening grocery stores, xerox shops, rice mills or teaching them skills of tailoring and pottery. This has helped create a flourishing ecosystem of rural entrepreneurs in the region, who have become an integral part of the region’s economy.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.26 million tonnes in FY22. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 4th in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2021 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. The company operates a 2 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) capacity alumina refinery in Lanjigarh (Kalahandi district, Odisha), India since 2007 and an associated 75 MW captive power plant. 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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