With sustainability becoming the core of every industry, Vedanta Aluminium, the world's leading aluminium producer, has taken a bold step that not only helps to uphold sustainability but also empowers women in the metal industry. Currently, the firm is on the road to establishing a one-of-a-kind women-led fly ash brick manufacturing facility, which shall aid in producing almost one crore bricks annually. The firm has taken this initiative by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Subhalaxmi Cooperative to set up the facility in Jharsuguda, Odisha.
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Subhalaxmi Cooperative, which is deemed to be India's largest rural women's cooperative, would be supplied with fly ash by Vedanta Aluminium at no cost, which would be sourced from Vedanta's mega aluminium plant. This shall not only aid in manufacturing bricks but also create circular economy avenues, supporting the generation of sustainable livelihood opportunities for the rural women.
The facility to be set up is estimated to have a capacity to produce bricks of nearly 25,000 and more in a single day, which will be managed entirely by the women of Subhalaxmi Cooperative. Vedanta shall only be involved in the installation and commissioning of the brick manufacturing unit. The support would extend to arranging the proper training of the operators with third-party quality testing of the sample bricks. This would aid the rural women to boost their knowledge and technical skills required to work in the facility.
What makes this sustainable? Fly ash, which is a by-product of the thermal power generation process, would be used extensively for several sustainable avenues, likely, brick manufacturing, road construction and cement manufacturing. By turning an industrial by‑product into bricks, the initiative transforms waste into a viable construction material, mirroring Vedanta's broader "waste‑to‑wealth" strategy that has already supported hundreds of MSME brick makers.
For the past 3 years, Vedanta Aluminium has been supplying over 1.5 million tonnes of fly ash for cement manufacturing and an additional 3 million tonnes to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), devoting it towards road construction. Currently, the firm has deployed 650" fly ash rake from its Jharsuguda facility for the above-stated reasons.
"By repurposing industrial by-products like fly ash into eco-friendly building materials, went a transforming for good are not only contributing to a circular economy but also creating meaningful livelihood opportunities for thousands of rural women. This initiative is an apt reflection of our commitment to inclusive growth, environmental stewardship and long-term community development", stated Sunil Gupta, the Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium.
On the other hand, Pankajini Oram, President, Subhalaxmi Cooperative, said, "The partnership with Vedanta Aluminium marks a new chapter in our journey of empowerment. The upcoming unit will not only provide our members with a stable source of income but also equip them with valuable technical skills.
This pioneering initiative by Vedanta Aluminium in partnership with Subhalaxmi Cooperative not only exemplifies environmental innovation but also champions social equity. Earlier this year, Vedanta Aluminium was earlier fined with INR 711.6 million (USD 8.52 million) for disposal of fly ashes. However, the company is making a greater use of the by-product, upholding the heart of sustainability with a greater initiative.
By combining industrial sustainability with women's empowerment, the project stands as a powerful example of how circular economy principles can drive inclusive growth at the grassroots level. As the fly ash brick unit gears up for operation, it paves the way for greener infrastructure and a stronger, more self-reliant rural workforce.
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