Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has signed a gas sales agreement (GSA) with GAIL Gas Limited, a subsidiary of GAIL (India) Limited, to supply natural gas to its Jharsuguda smelter, the world's largest aluminium plant. The transition to natural gas, set to begin by late 2025, is expected to cut carbon emissions by 47,292 tonnes of CO? equivalent annually, according to the company. Under the agreement, approximately 32,000 standard cubic metres (SCM) of natural gas will be supplied daily through a dedicated 7.5 km pipeline. This cleaner energy source will fuel Vedanta Aluminium’s operations, including a new 430 kilo tonnes per annum (KTPA) cast house, designed to produce 250 KTPA of billets and 180 KTPA of other value-added aluminium products. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta and Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc, highlighted the alignment of this initiative with India’s clean energy vision and Vedanta’s ESG goals. "This partnership reflects our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and adopting sustainable energy solutions," she stated. Sunil Gupta, COO of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the operational and environmental benefits. "This agreement underscores our leadership in minimizing environmental impact while meeting India’s rising aluminium demand sustainably," he said. The switch to natural gas will result in a 62% monthly reduction in carbon emissions at the Jharsuguda plant, equivalent to 3,941 tonnes of CO?, supporting Vedanta Aluminium’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. In FY24, the company produced 2.37 million tonnes of aluminium, contributing over half of India’s total output. (ET)