Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminum producer and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Ltd, has achieved the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard V3 Certification for the manufacture and supply of a wide range of primary aluminum products at its facility in Korba, Chhattisgarh. This includes a smelter with two potlines for producing molten aluminum (hot metal), three casthouses for shaping the aluminum, a rolled product plant, and a power generation plant. Together, they contribute to an annual production capacity of 575,000 tonnes at BALCO.

BALCO produces aluminum wire rods, ingots, primary foundry alloys, and rolled products, as well as India’s first low-carbon aluminum range, Restora. They find applications in several sectors, including automobiles, infrastructure, insulations, power projects, electrical, and packaging. It has emerged as the first Indian company to achieve the ASI Performance Standard V3 Certification. Previously, Vedanta Aluminium has also achieved the ASI Performance Standard V2 Certification for its smelter and captive power plant located within the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Jharsuguda, Odisha, India.

The ASI Certification Program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process and is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the global aluminum value chain. The ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) was launched in May 2022, following a multi-year revision process. It defines 11 principles and 62 criteria under three sustainability pillars—Environment, Social, and Governance—with the aim of addressing sustainability areas in the aluminum value chain, such as biodiversity, indigenous peoples’ rights, circularity, and greenhouse gas emissions. The independent, third-party audit of BALCO was carried out by CETIZION Verifica.

John Slaven, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, stated, “We welcome BALCO’s inclusion in the esteemed ASI membership and its Certification against the ASI Performance Standard V3, which includes the production of our low-carbon ‘green’ aluminum Restora and Restora Ultra brands. As India’s iconic aluminum producer, BALCO has pioneered sustainable processes across every step of the aluminum value chain, establishing itself as a benchmark within the global industry. The certification comes as a reiteration of our continuous commitment to responsible production practices and ignites in our teams a renewed focus on exploring new ways to harness aluminum’s boundless potential towards building a sustainable world.”

Dr Fiona Solomon, CEO, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, commented, “We congratulate BALCO on achieving Performance Standard Certification V3 (2022) for its integrated aluminum production facilities in Chhattisgarh. As a large aluminum producer in India and a part of Vedanta Ltd - Aluminium Business, BALCO plays an important role in the global aluminum industry. This certification marks a notable milestone in BALCO’s sustainability journey and demonstrates its commitment to adopting practices that meet a broad range of environmental, social, and governance criteria.”

Vedanta Aluminium, of which BALCO is a part, is adopting a multi-pronged approach to achieve Net Zero by 2050, by setting clear timelines to mitigate emissions, deploying cutting-edge carbon reduction technologies, greater usage of renewables, and supporting grassroots climate resilience initiatives among local communities. Striking a balance between ecological needs and business requirements, the company achieved an impressive 28 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity in FY23 from a FY12 baseline, while also enhancing production three-fold during the same period.

For more information: www.vedantaaluminium.com