Vedanta Aluminium Achieves Major Water Conservation Milestone
India’s leading aluminium producer, Vedanta Aluminium, successfully recycled approximately 16 billion litres of water in FY25, a significant achievement in its sustainability journey. To put this into context, this volume is equivalent to 6,400 Olympic-size swimming pools.
With a 15% water recycling rate, the company has made notable progress in water conservation. Over the past year, 81 community ponds were renovated to enhance storage capacity, and an additional 20 farm ponds are being developed, adding 10,000 cubic meters to local water reserves.
Aligning with this year’s theme of ‘Glacier Preservation’, Vedanta continues its commitment to sustainable freshwater management. At Lanjigarh, home to its alumina refinery, the company’s Integrated Watershed Project has successfully boosted water recharge by 2 lakh cubic meters, supporting irrigation across 170 acres of farmland and benefiting over 500 farmers. Additionally, climate-smart farming techniques, including drip irrigation, have conserved more than 1 lakh cubic meters of water, positively impacting over 2,000 people. Vedanta has also partnered with NABARD to build 12 new farm ponds, further strengthening water availability in the region.
At its mining sites, Vedanta has implemented rainwater harvesting systems and restored local ponds, collectively increasing water storage by 75,000 cubic meters. To optimize water use and support nearby communities, the company has introduced bio-toilets, solar-powered borewells, and digital water flow meters as part of Project Nirmal, an initiative focused on sustainable water management.
At its Jharsuguda aluminium smelter, one of Vedanta’s largest facilities, significant water conservation efforts have been made, including upgrading the sewage treatment plant to process 240 kilolitres of water daily, with the treated water being repurposed for green belt development. Marking World Water Day, Vedanta further reinforced its commitment by inaugurating a new farm pond to enhance local water storage and availability.
Similarly, at the BALCO plant, the company has improved wastewater management by commissioning new effluent treatment plants for its coal handling plant and installing reverse osmosis systems. These advancements play a crucial role in treating and reusing wastewater, further reducing the company’s environmental impact.
Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the importance of water conservation, stating:
“Water is a vital shared resource that sustains life, communities, and industries. On this World Water Day, we reaffirm our goal to achieve Net Water Positive status by 2030. Through innovative technologies, efficient water management, and community initiatives, we strive to conserve water and enhance the well-being of ecosystems and communities.”
In the coming week, Vedanta will host awareness sessions for local communities, featuring interactive activities such as the “Identify the Leak” contest, a Water Pledge Wall, and creative competitions including poster-making and slogan-writing. The company will also organize speech competitions for students and webinars on water neutrality and management to promote awareness.
As a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, Vedanta Aluminium is India’s largest aluminium producer, contributing over 50% of the country’s aluminium output, with 2.37 million tonnes produced in FY24. The company ranks second in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium sector, highlighting its leadership in sustainable development. With state-of-the-art smelters, an alumina refinery, and power plants, Vedanta Aluminium is committed to advancing aluminium as the “Metal of the Future”, driving sustainability for a greener tomorrow.