BALCO achieves lowest ever Specific Water Consumption in FY 21

Balconagar, Korba;7thSeptember 2021:Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer, has achieved historicallowest ever Specific Water Consumption at 0.60 m3/MT in FY 20-21 at its operations against 0.71 m3/MT in FY 19-20. Testimony to its continuous endeavor towards maximizing process efficiencies with optimized consumption of natural resources, BALCO has conservedmore than 40,000 litres of freshwater in the previous fiscal.

BALCOis committed to the principles of sustainable manufacturing by focusing on economic, environmental, and social aspects of metal manufacturing activities. The company has implemented conversion of underground piping network of cooling system for rolled products, water-cooling system for hydraulic system to air cooled system, underground fire line to overhead fire line, and reduction of the heat load of compressor house to optimize and reduce its water usage. BALCO recycles 100% of water in its smelter operations, true to its efforts of becoming a Zero Liquid Discharge operation.

Speaking on BALCO’s efforts towards resource utilization,Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director, BALCO,said: “Vedanta’s ethos of ‘Zero Harm, Zero Waste and Zero Discharge’ continues to guide our environmental and social performance. Effective management of resources, safety and environmental sustainability are pivotal to how we operate and produce aluminium - the green metal for a greener tomorrow. Our vision is to become ‘Water Positive’ and replenish more water than we consume. We are conscious of our responsibility towards building a greener and more sustainable tomorrow and,therefore, are actively exploring innovations that help in optimization of resources as early as possible in the creation process.”

BALCO’s sustainability strategy is focused on evolving production processes to become more efficient with increased use of green and clean technologies. The company has a focused approach towardsexcellence in operational practices, innovation, analytics, resource optimization, waste utilization and impact on local communities, with commitment to the principles of Zero Harm, Zero Waste & Zero Discharge.

Mr. S.K.Mishra, GM– Operations& Maintenance of NTPC GE Power Services Limited,which is BALCO’s O&M partner in Power Plant, said, “BALCO is doing exemplary work towards natural resource optimization by integrating various new-age technologies in its operations. BALCO’s approach and commitment to sustainable practices in the manufacturing process is unmatched. We are very proud to be a part of BALCO’s journey towards a stronger sustainable future.”

Recently, BALCO has also set industry benchmarks by topping the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Cycle-II among the Indian Aluminium Industry. BALCO secured the coveted top spot with the highest Energy Saving Certificates, a testimony of its continuous endeavors towards energy conservation for business and environment sustainability.

Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 49% by the Government of India and 51% by Vedanta Limited. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium. BALCO operates a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfills 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, Namibia, and Australia. 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. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares, the 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. Vedanta and its group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2020, and were conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, CII Environmental Best Practices Award 2020, CSR Health Impact Award 2020, CII National Award 2020 for Excellence in Water Management, CII Digital Transformation Award 2020,  ICSI National Award 2020 for excellence in Corporate Governance, People First HR Excellence Award 2020,  ‘Company with Great Managers 2020’ by People Business  and certified as a Great Place to Work 2021. Vedanta’s flagship Nand Ghar Project was identified as best CSR project by the Government of Rajasthan.  Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.For more information, please log on to https://www.vedantalimited.com

About Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO):

Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) is a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, operating a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest producer of Aluminium, producing almost half of India’s Aluminium i.e., 1.96 million tonnes in FY21. Vedanta Aluminium is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. 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.

बालको ने सीमेंट उद्योग को भेजा पहला फ्लाई ऐश रैक

बालकोनगर,20 नवंबर,2021। ///वेदांता समूह की कंपनी भारत एल्यूमिनियम कंपनी लिमिटेड (बालको) ने पर्यावरण संरक्षण एवं संवर्धन की दिशा में महत्वपूर्ण पहल करते हुए देश की प्रमुख सीमेंट उत्पादक कंपनी को पहली बार रेलवे रैक के माध्यम से फ्लाई ऐश की आपूर्ति की है। इससे कम कार्बन वाले सीमेंट के उत्पादन के साथ चक्रीय अर्थव्यवस्था को गति मिलेगी। फ्लाई ऐश का 100 फीसदी उपयोग सुनिश्चित होगा।

 बालको के मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी एवं निदेशक श्री अभिजीत पति ने पहले फ्लाई ऐश रैक के रवाना होने के अवसर पर कहा कि पर्यावरण संरक्षण एवं संवर्धन और नागरिकों के हितों को ध्यान में रखकर बालको ने अपने प्रचालन में अत्याधुनिक तकनीकों को स्थान दिया है। बालको की उत्पादन प्रक्रिया के दौरान निकलने वाले अनेक उत्सर्जी पदार्थों को नवाचार आधारित तकनीकों से कम करने में मदद मिली है। पुनर्चक्रण के जरिए अनेक सह उत्पादों का दोबारा प्रयोग भी किया जाता है। पर्यावरण प्रबंधन और कार्बन फुटप्रिंट कम करने की दिशा में नई तकनीकों की भूमिका महत्वपूर्ण है। श्री पति ने कहा कि बालको और सीमेंट उद्योग मिलकर फ्लाई ऐश का प्रभावी प्रयोग सुनिश्चित करने की दिशा में काम कर रहे हैं। इससे पर्यावरण संवेदी उत्पादन प्रक्रिया को निरंतर बनाए रखने में मदद मिलेगी।

बालको द्वारा अनेक सीमेंट उत्पादक कंपनियों को फ्लाई ऐश की आपूर्ति की जा रही है। रेल मार्ग से फ्लाई ऐश की आपूर्ति से बालको को अपने पर्यावरण प्रबंधन संबंधी लक्ष्यों को पाने में मदद मिलेगी। बालको ने भारतमाला परियोजना के अंतर्गत भारतीय राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग प्राधिकरण (एनएचएआई) के साथ साझेदारी की है। इसके अंतर्गत राजमार्गों के निर्माण के लिए बालको द्वारा एनएचएआई को फ्लाई ऐश की आपूर्ति की जा रही है। इसके अलावा बालको ने विश्वेश्वरैया नेशनल इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ टेक्नोलॉजी (व्हीएनआईटी), नागपुर के साथ समझौता (एमओयू) किया है जिसके अंतर्गत संयंत्र परिसर और आसपास के क्षेत्रों में होने वाले सड़क निर्माण कार्यों में व्हीएनआईटी द्वारा विकसित ग्रीन कांक्रीट के प्रयोग को बढ़ावा दिया जाएगा। ग्रीन कांक्रीट ऐसा नवाचार है जिसमें फ्लाई ऐश और बॉटम ऐश जैसे औद्योगिक अपशिष्टों का प्रयोग करते हुए निर्माण कार्य संचालित किए जाते हैं। बड़े पैमाने पर ग्रीन कांक्रीट के प्रयोग से पर्यावरण का संरक्षण सुनिश्चित होगा।

पर्यावरण संरक्षण एवं संवर्धन और सतत एवं सुरक्षित कार्य शैली को प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए बालको ने वर्ष 2020 में गोल्डन पीकॉक सस्टेनिबिलिटी अवार्ड, सीआईआई एनर्जी इफीसिएंसी अवार्ड, छत्तीसगढ़ सीआईआई एचएसई एक्सीलेंस अवार्ड हासिल किए। इनके अलावा पिछले वर्षों के दौरान इंटरनेशनल ग्रीन एप्पल अवार्ड, सीआईआई एनर्जी एक्सीलेंस अवार्ड, सस्टेनेबल बिजनेस ऑफ द ईयर अवार्ड, नेशनल अवार्ड फॉर एक्सीलेंस इन एनर्जी मैनेजमेंट तथा एनर्जी एंड एनवायरमेंट ग्लोबल एनवायरमेंट अवार्ड जीते।