Vedanta Aluminium grows its electric forklift fleet to 66 units, maintaining its leadership in sustainable operations and commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2050 through considerable decarbonisation efforts.

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has increased its electric lithium-ion forklift fleet to 66 units, cementing its position as the country’s largest deployer of electric lithium-ion forklifts. The company has successfully installed an extra 22 electric forklifts at its smelter operations in Jharsuguda, Odisha, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability. This development bolsters Vedanta Aluminium’s decarbonisation efforts.

Speaking about this project, John Slaven, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, states, “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.”

These forklifts are being used at Vedanta Aluminium’s Jharsuguda and Lanjigarh facilities in Odisha, as well as its BALCO smelter in Chhattisgarh. They have faster and safer battery charging capabilities. This dramatically improves operational efficiency while also considerably reducing carbon emissions. The introduction of electric lithium-ion forklifts greatly reduces the company’s carbon footprint through:

• Potential annual decrease in greenhouse gas emissions of roughly 2,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
• Significant reduction in fuel use, with a projected savings of about 8.4 lakh litres per year.

The corporation has pledged to decarbonise all of its light motor vehicle (LMV) fleet by 2030. This continuous endeavour demonstrates Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to evaluating and deploying innovative technologies to decarbonise its processes. Vedanta is one of India’s first firms to implement sustainable operational principles, particularly in material handling.

The development of Vedanta Aluminium’s electric forklift fleet is another step towards achieving Net Zero by 2050. To meet this promise, the corporation is implementing a two-pronged strategy: decreasing its carbon footprint by improving operational excellence and renewables in its energy mix and offsetting its carbon impact through major afforestation initiatives. Through its operations, the firm is increasing global access to responsibly produced, high-quality aluminium, ensuring a greener future for the earth.

Vedanta Aluminium, a unit of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest aluminium producer, producing more than half of the country’s aluminium (2.37 million tonnes in FY24). It is a market leader in value-added aluminium products with important applications in key sectors. Vedanta Aluminium is ranked first in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, reflecting its industry-leading sustainable development policies. The company’s world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refineries, and power plants in India help it achieve its purpose of promoting emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.

For more information, visit: https://www.vedantalimited.com/eng/