Odisha: Hindalco Flagged Off EV Bulkers, Charging Stations

Hindalco Industries Ltd., the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, has flagged off EV bulkers at its Aditya Aluminium plant in Odisha. These electric vehicles (EV) bulkers would supply one million tonnes of fly ash to the cement industry in the region over the next five years. Additionally, the company has inaugurated two EV recharge stations near the fly ash loading point.

As a result of using electric vehicles, the plant expects to reduce 3,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, and it will help save Rs 1.5 crore in freight costs. Additionally, as a part of its global push for sustainability and carbon neutrality accelerates, Hindalco aims to progressively replace its diesel vehicles with EVs across all its plants in the country. This move aligns with Hindalco’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions and reducing scope-3 emissions and demonstrates its commitment to a circular economy and enhancing value from waste. Fly ash constitutes about 35% of the volume of cement produced. Hindalco supplies ~4 million tonnes of fly ash from across its plants in India, to the cement industry.

Scaling EVs To Transport Fly ash

Sukanta Das, President & Chief Logistics Officer, Hindalco Industries Ltd., said, “This marks an important milestone as we induct the first set of Electric Vehicles (EVs) into our transportation fleet. These EVs will play a pivotal role in transporting our critical waste, Fly Ash, to the cement industry as an input material, contributing not only to a greener transportation system but also to the circular economy.”

Hindalco is also focused on scaling up the use of LNG and Electric Vehicles in road transport while also expanding the Rail mode of transportation by connecting its new mines and plant locations to the Indian Railways network. This initiative reinforces Hindalco’s leadership in sustainable practices and carbon reduction, taking significant strides toward a greener future.

Waste materials such as fly ash, ETP sludge, red mud, spent Pot Liner, FGD waste, etc. are used in manufacturing blended types of cement such as PPC (Portland Pozzolana Cement), PPC Super, clinker, and composite cement, which help conserve finite natural resources. Hindalco also supplies 1.4 lakh metric tonnes of copper slag for manufacturing ready-mix concrete, replacing sand.

Hindalco is also leading in climate action and emission reduction programs and has taken several initiatives in this direction, such as setting up a 100 MW round-the-clock carbon-free power project for its Odisha smelter, which also earned the prestigious ‘Energy Transition Changemaker’ award at COP28.