Vedanta Aluminium's Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) unit in Korba, Chhattisgarh, has deployed a first cohort of 30 women crane pilots to advance a women led operating model in a technology enabled smelting environment.

The cohort comprises 10 beam raising operators and 20 Pot Tending Machine (PTM) pilots and the deployment coincided with the unit's entry into the million (mn) tonne (t) club.

The pilots progressed through a capability path that combined classroom instruction, simulator sessions and progressively responsible on the job exposure, enabling them to undertake critical pot room tasks. These tasks include anode changing, covering, tapping of molten aluminium and beam raising that maintain electrolytic reduction cells within tight parameters for stable continuous metal production.

Vedanta Aluminium's chief executive indicated that automation and advanced technologies are reshaping modern aluminium operations and creating opportunities for a new generation of skilled professionals. The company's manufacturing strategy pairs digitalisation and automation with inclusive workforce design to make core roles gender agnostic and expand high skill training pathways for women.

The deployment builds on BALCO's wider inclusion efforts, which have integrated transgender professionals into core plant functions with policies that include paid leave and financial assistance. Women currently account for 21 per cent of the workforce and the company has set a target to increase representation to 35 per cent in the coming years. The programme was said to reflect long term investment in training and trust in diverse talent to sustain continuous production and operational excellence.