Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has introduced Bogie Open Bottom Rapid discharge (BOBRN) railway wagons with pneumatic door opening actuators for transporting coal to its smelters in Jharsuguda, Odisha, and Korba, Chhattisgarh. This initiative is part of the Indian Railways’ General Purpose Wagon Investment Scheme (GPWIS) and aims to enhance operational efficiency while advancing the company’s sustainability efforts.
BOBRN wagons are specifically designed for bulk coal transport and can quickly discharge cargo directly into hopper pits through their bottom openings, enabling a faster, more efficient unloading process and reducing turnaround times. These wagons are ideal for large-scale coal deliveries, such as those required by power plants, and play a critical role in maintaining continuous power supply to Vedanta Aluminium’s large-scale smelters.
With the world’s largest aluminium plant in Jharsuguda and BALCO’s iconic smelter in Korba, Vedanta relies on a steady coal supply for its operations. The addition of BOBRN rakes will improve the materialization of linkage coal, ensuring more efficient supply chain management and reducing production costs. Importantly, this transition from road to rail transport is expected to significantly lower Vedanta Aluminium’s carbon emissions, as rail transport has a lower per-ton CO2 emission compared to trucks.
Vedanta Aluminium currently operates four BOBRN rakes and plans to expand this fleet by adding four more. This increase will not only further streamline coal transport but also align with the company’s broader sustainability goals by reducing its environmental impact.
Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium, commented on the initiative, saying, “The introduction of BOBRN rakes marks an important step in improving our rail logistics. This will reduce turnaround times, ensure reliable coal deliveries, and lower both costs and emissions. It aligns perfectly with our commitment to operational excellence and national sustainability efforts.”
Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director of BALCO, added, “This move strengthens our supply chain while supporting our goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The BOBRN rakes are a key element in improving our operational efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint.”
Vedanta Aluminium has adopted a dual strategy to minimize and offset its carbon footprint. This includes increasing the use of renewable energy, optimizing manufacturing processes to reduce waste, and transitioning to low-carbon energy sources such as biofuels. Its smelters have been certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standards, a global benchmark for sustainable practices.
Vedanta Aluminium, part of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest aluminium producer, responsible for more than half of the country’s aluminium output, at 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. The company leads in producing value-added aluminium products for core industries.
Ranked first in the aluminium sector in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023, Vedanta Aluminium is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and its focus on using aluminium as the “Metal of the Future” for a greener, more sustainable world.
