During an exclusive interview at the IBAAS Conference, Gangaa C. Sharma, Managing Director & CEO of CETIZION Verifica Pvt. Ltd., offered deep insights into the evolving landscape of the global aluminium industry, the growing momentum toward sustainability, and the critical role of ESG excellence in shaping the sector’s future. Read the full interview to explore his valuable insights and outlook on the industry.

AL Circle: what is the core mission or value of CETIZION Verifica?

Gangaa C Sharma: CETIZION Verifica, as a global company, our core mission is to work in the area of sustainability. And when we say sustainability, we are talking about governance issues like ethical conduct, metal stewardship, environmental issues, waste, water, energy, and human rights and labour issues. So, this is our core mission to work with different industries, in specific aluminium companies globally.

AL Circle: And how do you aim to achieve that sustainability?

Gangaa C Sharma: We as a service provider, as an auditing company, we have our role to disseminate information, knowledge through our auditing practises. So, we are trying to achieve this goal through collaborative approach. Working with our customers, sharing good practises, what's happening in one part of the world, how the others can learn out of it.

And that's how we wanted to achieve this vision and mission of our company to contribute towards sustainable development goals.

 AL Circle: what do you think, how much ASI is important?

Gangaa C Sharma: If you see Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, in short ASI, they have developed a very beautiful, very comprehensive standard on sustainability. With all the aluminium sector requirements, right from the bauxite mining, aluminium refinery, smelter, cast house, downstream company, up to the recycling.

So, ASI is a readily available gold standard of sustainability as far as aluminium companies are concerned, irrespective whether they are in India, or in Guinea, or Europe, or elsewhere. Every company of every size can use this standard to develop, or reshape, or realign their sustainability programmes, initiative, and integrate those requirements into their day-to-day practise.

So, we believe ASI, as an initiative, is very useful and meaningful for the companies world over working in the aluminium value chain.

AL Circle: We recently saw your ESG awards, can you tell something about that? Any significance?

Gangaa C Sharma: So, you know, we are in the second year of ESG award. The very purpose of this award is to identify, recognise the best practises of the global companies in the aluminium sector.

Through our work on sustainability, we’ve gained insight into how companies align with both international and national standards of responsible practice. This award aims to recognise and celebrate those in the aluminium industry who are leading the way and outperforming their peers in sustainability efforts.

And through this award, we wanted to create a culture of healthy competition amongst companies around the world, across all aluminium value chain, right from mining up to the recycling. So that's the core mission of this award, to propagate the knowledge, exchange of experience, and recognise those efforts.