Bhubaneswar: On World Environment Day, Vedanta Ltd, an Indian mining and metals company, announced plans to explore biodiesel use in its commercial vehicle fleet at its Jharsuguda township in Odisha.
The company, Vedanta Aluminium, said in a statement that it is committed to fully decarbonising its light motor vehicle fleet by 2030, following successful biodiesel pilot tests to evaluate its feasibility. It has also started using biomass briquettes from agricultural residue for co-firing at its Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha and BALCO smelter in Chhattisgarh.
At Lanjigarh, 20 tonnes of biomass are co-fired daily, reducing CO2 emissions by over 10,000 tonnes annually. Additionally, Vedanta introduced a 10-ton electric forklift at its Jharsuguda aluminium plant and operates a large fleet of electric lithium-ion forklifts, cutting diesel use and emissions. A partnership with Let’s DriEV promotes electric vehicle use among employees and residents in Jharsuguda, it further stated
Sunil Gupta, COO of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainable, energy-efficient practices and responsible growth in the global aluminium industry.
Vedanta has kicked off a mass plantation drive across Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Goa and other states.