Vedanta Aluminium to deploy an advanced pot lining design across its smelters to reduce energy consumption

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, has reportedly achieved a breakthrough in aluminium smelting technique that would reduce energy consumption and curb carbon emissions. 

On National Energy Conservation Day, Vedanta announced that its new energy-efficient technique, an advanced pot lining design, is ready to be deployed at its smelters to reduce energy consumption by up to 250 kWh per tonne of aluminium produced.

Vedanta’s new advanced pot lining design provides a dual advantage by boosting the smelters' energy efficiency and enhancing the smelting pots' lifespan.

The new pot lining design will be installed across Vedanta’s smelters, including Jharsuguda in Odisha and BALCO in Korba, Chhattisgarh. The smelters house several potlines, which are long buildings within the smelter containing a series of pot or large electrolytic cells, within which aluminium smelting is carried out.

The new pot lining is projected to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3.86 lakh tonnes of CO2e generated per annum at its largest smelter in Jharsuguda alone.

Vedanta Aluminium CEO John Slaven said, At Vedanta Aluminium, climate action is a key strategic pillar and business imperative, executed through a two-pronged strategy of mitigation and offsetting our carbon footprint. Energy management and conservation are integral aspects of this entire effort, and we are therefore focused on leading the charge in this aspect within the aluminium industry."

Recently, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP), Vedanta also developed an innovative method of bauxite refining process that would reduce the generation of bauxite residue by 30 per cent.