The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MARCH 22, 2025
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has achieved a significant milestone in its sustainability journey by recycling approximately 16 billion litres of water across its operations in FY25. This volume, equivalent to around 6,400 Olympic-size swimming pools, underscores the company’s commitment to responsible water management. With a water recycling rate of 15%, Vedanta continues to make remarkable strides in conservation efforts while also enhancing local water storage through community initiatives.
Aligning with the theme of World Water Day 2025, ‘Glacier Preservation,’ the company has undertaken multiple projects aimed at the sustainable management of freshwater resources. At its alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, the Integrated Watershed Project has significantly improved water recharge by 2 lakh cubic meters, ensuring irrigation for over 170 acres of farmland and benefiting more than 500 farmers. Climate-smart agricultural practices, such as drip irrigation, have conserved an additional 1 lakh cubic meters of water, impacting over 2,000 people since the project’s inception. Moreover, Vedanta has strengthened community water access by renovating 81 ponds and plans to construct at least 20 more farm ponds, adding 10,000 cubic metres to local water storage. A recent collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has also resulted in the establishment of 12 new farm ponds to support local farmers.
At its mining locations, Vedanta Aluminium has introduced rainwater harvesting systems and rejuvenated ponds, storing an additional 75,000 cubic meters of water. Initiatives such as bio-toilets, solar borewells, and digital water flow meters under Project Nirmal have further optimized water use and improved access to clean water for local communities.
In Jharsuguda, home to Vedanta’s mega aluminium smelter, the company has upgraded its sewage treatment plant, processing 240 kilolitres of water daily, with treated water being repurposed for green belt development. In observance of World Water Day, the company inaugurated a new farm pond near its operations, enhancing water storage and accessibility for local communities. Similarly, at BALCO, newly commissioned effluent treatment plants for the coal handling plant, along with reverse osmosis systems, are ensuring effective wastewater treatment and reuse.
Reaffirming the company’s commitment to water sustainability, Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium, stated, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we recognize that water is a precious and shared resource critical to sustaining life, communities, and industries. On this World Water Day, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving Net Water Positive status by 2030 through innovative technologies, efficient water management practices, and community-driven initiatives such as crucial knowledge-sharing sessions. By fostering awareness and implementing sustainable solutions, we aim to ensure that our operations not only conserve water but also contribute significantly to the well-being of the ecosystems and communities around us.”
To further drive awareness, Vedanta Aluminium has planned educational initiatives for communities across its operational regions. These include knowledge-sharing sessions on judicious water use, a week-long “Identify the Leak” contest, and the establishment of a Water Pledge Wall. Creative competitions, including poster-making and slogan-writing, are being organized for employees, students, and local communities, while speech contests and webinars on water neutrality and management will further reinforce the importance of responsible water stewardship.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing over 2.37 million tonnes in FY24 —more than half of the country’s total aluminium production. As a leader in value-added aluminium products, the company plays a critical role in core industries and emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future.’ Ranked 2nd in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium industry, Vedanta Aluminium continues to set new benchmarks in sustainable development and environmental responsibility, reinforcing its commitment to a greener tomorrow.
