World Water Day: Vedanta Aluminium recycles 16 billion litres of water in FY25

Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, recycled approximately 16 billion litres of water across its operations in FY25, marking a significant milestone in its sustainability journey. For context, this quantity is roughly equivalent to 6,400 Olympic-size swimming pools. With a water recycling rate of 15 per cent, the company continues to make remarkable progress in conserving water at its operations. Over the past year, through various initiatives, Vedanta has renovated 81 community ponds to increase storage capacity and plans to construct at least 20 additional farm ponds, contributing an extra 10,000 cubic meters to local water storage.

In line with this year's theme of 'Glacier Preservation', Vedanta remains deeply committed to the sustainable management of freshwater resources:

• At Lanjigarh, home to Vedanta's alumina refinery, the Integrated Watershed Project has significantly improved water recharge by 2 lakh cubic meters, providing irrigation for over 170 acres of land and benefiting over 500 farmers. Climate-smart agriculture practices, like drip irrigation, have further conserved over 1 lakh cubic metres of water, impacting more than 2,000 people since the project's inception. Additionally, by providing access to clean water for local communities, the company has further demonstrated its commitment to sustainable water management and overall community development. Only recently, the company has also partnered with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), establishing 12 new farm ponds.
• Furthermore, at its mining locations, Vedanta Aluminium has implemented rainwater harvesting systems and rejuvenated ponds to store an additional 75,000 cubic metres, while initiatives like bio-toilets, solar borewells, and digital water flow meters optimise resource use and enhance community access to clean water through Project Nirmal.
• At Jharsuguda, where Vedanta's mega aluminium smelter is located, the company announced the upgradation of its sewage treatment plant, processing 240 kilo-litres daily, with treated water reused for green belt development. On the occasion of World Water Day, the company has inaugurated a farm pond near its operations, enhancing water storage and accessibility for local communities.
• At BALCO, recently commissioned effluent treatment plants for the coal handling plant and systems employing reverse osmosis have been ensuring effective wastewater treatment and reuse.

Commenting on Vedanta Aluminium's commitment to water sustainability, Mr Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium, said, "At Vedanta Aluminium, we recognise that water is a precious and shared resource critical to sustaining life, communities, and industries. On this World Water Day, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving Net Water Positive status by 2030 through innovative technologies, efficient water management practices, and community-driven initiatives such as crucial knowledge-sharing sessions. By fostering awareness and implementing sustainable solutions, we aim to ensure that our operations not only conserve water but also contribute significantly to the well-being of the ecosystems and communities around us."

Over the upcoming week, awareness sessions on judicious water use have been planned for community members across various locations, supported by activities like a week-long "Identify the Leak" contest and the creation of a Water Pledge Wall. Creative competitions, including poster-making and slogan-writing, are being organised for employees, students, and community members. Additionally, speech competitions for school students and webinars on water neutrality and management are being conducted to awareness across communities.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India's largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India's aluminium, i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the 'Metal of the Future' for a greener tomorrow. 

Note: This Press Release has been issued by Vedanata Aluminium and has been published by AL Circle in its original form without any modifications or edits.