Vedanta Explores Biodiesel Use to Cut Emissions in Odisha

06 Jun 2025 CW Team

On World Environment Day, Indian mining and metals giant Vedanta Ltd announced plans to explore the use of biodiesel in its commercial vehicle fleet at the Jharsuguda township in Odisha.

Vedanta Aluminium, a subsidiary of the group, said it has committed to decarbonising 100 per cent of its light motor vehicle fleet by 2030. As part of this initiative, the company is evaluating biodiesel following successful pilot runs to assess its viability in its commercial vehicles.

In addition, Vedanta has started using biomass briquettes made from agricultural residue for co-firing at its Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha and BALCO smelter in Chhattisgarh. At the Lanjigarh unit, located in Kalahandi district, 20 tonnes of biomass are co-fired daily, reducing carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by over 10,000 tonnes annually.

The company has also introduced a 10-tonne electric forklift at its aluminium plant in Jharsuguda and currently operates a sizeable fleet of electric lithium-ion forklifts. This shift has significantly lowered diesel consumption and emissions across its operations.

“The move to electric mobility is further supported by a recent partnership with Let’s DriEV, launched in Vedanta’s Jharsuguda township to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles among employees and residents,” the company stated.

Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasised the company’s broader commitment: “From responsible sourcing of materials to energy-efficient manufacturing, Vedanta is dedicated to creating long-term value while safeguarding the planet’s needs.”

“Our goal is to lead the global aluminium industry by example, setting new standards for sustainable and responsible growth,” he added.

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..