Vedanta Aluminium deploys 44 electric lithium-ion forklifts in partnership with GEAR India

Carried out in partnership with Gemini Equipment and Rentals Private Limited (GEAR) India and TARON Lift & Move, Vedanta Aluminium has deployed 44 electric lithium-ion forklifts throughout its Odisha and Chhattisgarh businesses. The corporation has also pledged to decarbonise 100 per cent of its LMV fleet by 2030 and 75% of its mining fleet by 2035.

Vedanta Aluminium's engagement with GEAR and TARON Lift & Move marks a major step forward in the company's efforts to decarbonise its industrial vehicle fleet. These forklifts revolutionise operational efficiency while significantly reducing carbon emissions and fuel consumption, ultimately contributing to Vedanta Aluminium's goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Vedanta has recently installed a 10-tonne electric lithium-ion forklift at its Jharsuguda aluminium smelter. It has also installed 3-tonne and 5-tonne electric forklifts for the first time at its world-class alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, Odisha, as well as at its subsidiary BALCO, India's renowned aluminium manufacturer headquartered in Korba, Chhattisgarh.

"We continue to explore and implement innovative practices to enhance our sustainability performance while also producing the best quality of aluminium. We are dedicated to the mission of promoting ESG excellence, which forms the foundation of all our business endeavours. Our partnerships with leading technological providers have enabled us to pioneer sustainable material handling practices in the industry. The commissioning of India's first 10-ton electric lithium-ion forklift comes as a reaffirmation of our commitment to accelerating the transition to a Net Zero future," said Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Ltd.- Aluminium Business.

Installing electric lithium-ion forklifts dramatically reduces the company's carbon footprint, with an annual decrease in greenhouse gas emissions of around 1,600 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The 10-tonne forklift alone saves up to 85 tonnes of CO2 per year/vehicle per year and a significant reduction in fuel use, with an anticipated savings of over 5.1 lakh gallons per year.

In FY23, Vedanta Aluminium set a precedent for domestic manufacturing by installing 27 forklifts at its Jharsuguda facility, one of the world's biggest aluminium smelters. This became the country's biggest EV forklift fleet at the time, and the firm has increased the fleet size across all of its operations to 44 units this year, much encouraged by the huge decarbonisation advantages realised from the original fleet. This project demonstrates our ongoing efforts to analyse and apply developing technology to decarbonise our operations.

Varun Chopra, Executive Chairman of GEAR India, commented, "We are delighted to partner with Vedanta Aluminium in their sustainability journey. GEAR, a leader in sustainable material handling solutions is proud to be a partner in Vedanta Aluminium's decarbonisation journey. The commissioning of India's first 10-ton electric lithium-ion forklift, part of the 41 units of Zero Emission Lithium-ion Forklifts that we have deployed at Vedanta Jharsuguda and BALCO is a remarkable achievement. It highlights our shared commitment to advancing clean and efficient electric mobility and material handling solutions."

These forklifts are outfitted with an IoT-based 'Smart Fleet Management' technology to improve operational safety and efficiency. This cutting-edge technology enables forklift performance to be monitored in real-time, allowing for predictive maintenance and guaranteeing the highest safety requirements on-site.

They also include forward and backward cameras to provide total sight for the operators, red-zone light and blue spotlights to establish a safe working zone surrounding the forklift, and an automated deceleration mechanism when turning for added safety. As part of its efforts to increase gender diversity in key production activities, the company trains women and transgender professionals to operate these high-end forklifts.