The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 31, 2025
Odisha, known for its vast mineral wealth, has emerged as a key manufacturing hub, bolstered by its progressive business environment and skilled workforce. A significant force behind this transformation is Vedanta, whose investments and initiatives are positioning the state as a global leader in aluminium production and industrial growth.
Vedanta Aluminium’s Chief Operating Officer, Sunil Gupta, highlighted the company’s commitment, stating, “Our journey in Odisha has been nothing short of transformative. From pioneering India’s first women-operated potline to driving skill development and sustainability, we are dedicated to shaping Odisha’s bright future.” He added that the company’s ₹1 lakh crore investment underscores its confidence in Odisha’s potential to lead India’s industrial revolution.
Aluminium, dubbed the ‘Metal of the Future,’ is essential for green technologies and India’s Net Zero aspirations. With Odisha accounting for 41% of the country’s bauxite resources, the state is poised to play a crucial role in the growing demand for aluminium as India moves toward a $5 trillion economy.
Vedanta’s presence in Odisha is marked by its massive investments, making it the largest investor in the state. Its 1.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) smelter facility in Jharsuguda — the world’s largest — is the only Indian smelter in the global one-million-tonne club. Additionally, its 3.5 MTPA alumina refinery in Lanjigarh has been instrumental in fostering over 20,000 MSMEs, strengthening Odisha’s industrial ecosystem.
The company has also expanded into mining across multiple districts, creating up to 10,000 livelihood opportunities in each region. These efforts contribute nearly 4% to Odisha’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), bringing remote regions into the socio-economic mainstream.
At the Utkarsh Odisha – Make In Odisha Conclave 2025, Vedanta Aluminium announced a ₹1 lakh crore investment aimed at accelerating Odisha’s industrial growth. In the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal, the company signed an MoU for a 3 MTPA aluminium plant and a state-of-the-art aluminium park in Jharsuguda. Spanning 253 acres, the park will attract over 100 SMEs and MSMEs, generate two lakh jobs, and create additional value worth ₹4,500 crores.
Beyond industrial growth, Vedanta is deeply invested in Odisha’s socio-economic development. Its acquisition of the Kalinga Lancers hockey team reinforces its commitment to the state’s sporting heritage, while its social initiatives span education, healthcare, infrastructure, grassroots sports, and cultural development. With 531 Nand Ghars — modernized Anganwadi centers — and free medical services benefiting over 67,000 people annually through the Vedanta Hospital in Lanjigarh, the company is making a tangible impact on local communities.
Vedanta is also a pioneer in gender inclusion, with its Jharsuguda smelter plant operating India’s first fully women-run potline. Under its ‘Shree Shakti’ initiative, the company became the first in Odisha to deploy women in night shifts. ‘Project Panchhi,’ conceptualized by Chairman Anil Agarwal, provides financial aid for higher education and employment opportunities, reinforcing Vedanta’s goal of achieving 30% women in its workforce by FY2030.
With its robust investments, technological advancements, and commitment to social responsibility, Vedanta is not only transforming Odisha’s industrial landscape but also shaping it into a global powerhouse.
