BALCO achieves a name as India’s iconic aluminium producer through a 58-year journey of dedication & commitment

This year India has celebrated ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, commemorating the completion of 75 years of its independence. This milestone in our national history has paved the way for an Industrial Revolution within our nation, founded on the dreams of the architects of independent India to make it one of the leading countries in the field of science and technology. This has resulted in the establishment of numerous industrial units through the support and partnership of different countries. The genesis of BALCO is written in this journey of India’s Industrial Revolution. BALCO is one of the earliest industries conceived as an agent of change in making India self-reliant by the country’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, has contributed significantly to empowering the state and country throughout its 58-year journey. Establishing a new benchmark in industrial excellence within the country, the organization has contributed to the nation’s self-reliance by setting milestones in several parameters such as production, productivity, quality, research and development, customer satisfaction, innovation, human resource management and community development.

With aluminium smelter of 5.70 lakh tonne per annum in Korba, Chhattisgarh, BALCO has emerged as a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. In its journey of more than half a century, BALCO has not only ensured sufficient supply of aluminium for the critical needs of the country but made a significant contribution in projects of scientific and strategic importance. BALCO’s aluminium has also been used in many long-range missiles manufactured in the country along with numerous space related equipment.

Transforming Communities

BALCO is actively empowering and supporting its partner communities in achieving greater economic and social well-being. It has a rich legacy and commitment to reinvesting in the development of its communities and nation at large, contributing through focused interventions in different domains of growth. The company touches the lives of about 1.5 lakh people annually through the development of education, sustainable livelihoods, women empowerment, health & sanitation, sports & culture, and infrastructure. BALCO’s social endeavours reach over 123 villages, and its CSR policies and systems are framed and implemented in such manner so as to deliver sustainable impact on the ground, making these communities equal participants in the progress of the nation.

Fostering Diversity

With a strong resolve to foster a culture of diversity and inclusivity at the workplace, BALCO has become one of the few manufacturing companies in India and the first industry in Chhattisgarh to welcome members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Over all, the company also carries out required infrastructural augmentation to ensure that the new hires feel comfortable, welcomed and have a sense of belongingness within the team.

Committed to Environment Protection

BALCO’s sustainable manufacturing practices focus on the economic, environmental, and social aspects of manufacturing activities. Amid the growing awareness for curbing carbon emissions, BALCO is committed to exploring several sustainable options for diversifying its energy sources. Besides, the company has already marked a benchmark in delivering the highest energy efficiency in smelter operations, decreasing GHG emissions by 0.43 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. BALCO’s proactive contribution towards environmental protection and energy conservation has today resulted in current efficiency as per global standards and lowest total DC & AC power consumption in its potline.

Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director of BALCO, said: “BALCO is committed to maximizing its efforts towards the advancement of society and environment. Through our continuous endeavors, we aim to achieve the larger goal of creating a sustainable future for generations to come and contribute to the expeditious development of the nation. BALCO has been an early adopter of smart technologies for heightened operational efficiencies, which further bolsters the culture of energy optimization, safety, and productivity that we have meticulously fostered across the organization. We are actively exploring innovations that can help reduce our carbon footprint as early as possible in the creation process and deliver sooner on our sustainability goals.