Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium’s Jamkhani coal mine, located in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, has earned a 4-star rating from the Union Coal Ministry for the financial year 2023–24.
Jamkhani, which scored an impressive 83 out of 100 in the ministry’s assessment, has emerged as one of the country’s top-performing mines within just two years of commencing operations.
The first privately-developed greenfield coal mine in Odisha under the auction era, Jamkhani is also the first greenfield mine of Vedanta, , India’s largest aluminium producer.
The mine plays a critical role in supporting Vedanta’s world-class aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda, the largest single-location aluminium smelting facility globally.
Jamkhani is also very crucial in Vedanta Aluminium’s vision of achieving 100% vertical integration and reducing India’s reliance on coal imports, thereby contributing to the country’s goal of a self-reliant, Viksit Bharat.
The Ministry of Coal introduced the star rating assessment scheme in FY 2019, to promote sustainable and responsible mining by evaluating mines across a wide range of parameters such as scientific mining practices, environmental conservation, statutory compliance, land and resettlement management, economic performance, technological adoption, employee welfare, and workplace safety.
“This acknowledgement is a testament to the dedication and coordinated efforts of the team at Jamkhani and reflects Vedanta’s broader vision of achieving excellence through a strong focus on sustainability, safety and digital innovation. The recognition underscores our commitment to driving transformational growth while upholding the highest standards of environmental and social governance,” said Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium.