Vedanta Aluminium scores hat-trick at 11th Fly Ash Utilization Conference Expo Awards

Vedanta Aluminium has scored a hat-trick at Mission Energy Foundation’s 11th Fly Ash Utilization Conference Expo Awards for effective fly-ash management. Vedanta’s Jharsuguda Power Plant in Odisha has won in the category of >=500 MW and =500 MW, while its Chhattisgarh-based affiliate BALCO received an award under the Captive Power Plant classification. Vedanta Aluminium got the first position for its substantial efforts in assuring lucrative usage of fly-ash in circular economy channels out of the 160 organisations that had participated.

Fly-ash is a by-product of coal-fired thermal power plants that supply electricity to Vedanta's aluminium smelters and also finds widespread use in the cement, building and infrastructure sectors, where they provide three-fold cost, quality, and sustainability benefits. Vedanta's cement business uses fly ash from its Jharsuguda and BALCO facilities to make low-carbon "green" cement. Each tonne of fly ash used in cement production may help save roughly 700-800 kg of CO2, 4.2 million KJ of energy, and 341 litres of water.

Vedanta Aluminium's cement business used almost 2.8 lakh tonnes of fly-ash in cement production and provided 2.7 lakh tonnes for brick making through these channels in FY22. The firm has formed a long-term relationship with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to construct greener roads in Odisha using fly-ash.

“With our climate at a tipping point, our mission, as India’s largest producer of aluminium, is to build a tomorrow where the nature thrives, and the future of our next generations is promised. Effective management of industrial waste streams like fly ash through collaborative action between various stakeholders can result in decarbonizing the entire ecosystem. With the belief that these changes are just innovative science, robust engineering and effective management of resources, Vedanta Aluminium has redoubled its efforts to utilize 100% of its by-products in gainful ways. These awards stand testimony to our efforts in that direction,” said Rahul Sharma, CEO – Aluminium Business, Vedanta Ltd.

Vedanta Aluminium is partnering with hundreds of local brick manufacturing MSMEs in Odisha and Chhattisgarh to help them transition from mud bricks. Fly-ash bricks are lighter and stronger than typical clay bricks and serve an important role in preventing the use of nutrient-rich topsoil as a raw material. Ash brick manufacture is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to produce clay bricks. Each tonne of ash bricks produced saves an estimated 5900 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. It also creates a healthier working environment for individuals involved in the brick-making process.