Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has introduced its first AI-powered drone-based solution for blasting clearance and danger zone monitoring at the Jamkhani coal mine in Odisha. This initiative, developed in collaboration with Vedanta’s Spark program, marks a major step in integrating advanced technology to enhance safety in mining operations.
The state-of-the-art drone is equipped with AI-driven software that provides real-time aerial surveillance, automatically detecting and tracking human, animal, and vehicle movements within a 500-meter blasting zone. This enables officials to monitor operations remotely and receive instant alerts on unauthorized activities through live streaming. Additionally, the system allows for seamless audio communication between officials, drone pilots, and blasting officers, ensuring precise coordination and improved operational efficiency.
With its ability to autonomously detect objects and provide real-time alerts, the AI-powered drone enhances surveillance in blind spots that conventional ground-based monitoring systems may miss. In the event of unauthorized entry or anomalies, immediate alerts are triggered, enabling swift corrective action.The Jamkhani coal mine is Vedanta’s first greenfield coal project in Odisha, supplying fuel to the company’s Jharsuguda plant—one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters.
Sunil Gupta, COO of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the company’s commitment to workplace safety, stating, “At Vedanta Aluminium, safety is a core priority. The integration of AI-powered drones into our mining safety protocols represents a significant advancement in ensuring a secure work environment while enhancing monitoring and compliance. We continue to adopt cutting-edge digital solutions for the well-being of our workforce.”
David Stone, CEO of Vedanta’s Coal Mines, highlighted the initiative’s impact, saying, “This AI-driven drone system sets a new standard for mine safety, providing real-time surveillance and instant communication capabilities that enhance situational awareness and risk management.” As part of its commitment to innovation, Vedanta Aluminium is leveraging emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, IoT, and smart safety solutions to drive efficiency and sustainability across its operations.
Amitesh Sinha, Vice President & Head – CVC & Spark, highlighted the importance of corporate-startup collaboration, stating, “This deployment, in partnership with Vedanta Aluminium’s Mines team and Skylark Drones, underscores our focus on safety through innovation. Through the Spark program, we have engaged with over 70 startups and launched more than 100 projects, integrating next-generation technologies to transform industrial processes.” Beyond operational advancements, Vedanta Aluminium continues to drive socio-economic development in Odisha through initiatives focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure, sustainable livelihoods, and grassroots sports.
Vedanta Aluminium, a division of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest aluminium producer, accounting for over half of the country’s aluminium output at 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. The company is a leader in value-added aluminium products catering to core industries and has been recognized for its sustainability leadership, ranking second globally in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium sector. With its world-class smelters, alumina refineries, and power plants, Vedanta Aluminium is driving the future of aluminium as a key material for a sustainable tomorrow.
