BALCO conducts successful pilot trial of biodiesel application in its aluminium smelter

The renowned Indian aluminium manufacturer Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, has successfully executed test runs for biodiesel in smelting operations. In the pilot test, the company preheated ladles or vehicles that transport hot metal (aluminium) in its molten condition from plotlines to cast houses by fuelling them with biodiesel.

A potline is a long building or group of buildings that are part of a smelter and houses many pots, or huge electrolytic cells, where aluminium is melted. The preheating procedure is absolutely essential for the ladle to be completely dry. This is crucial for preserving the metal's temperature and purity for transit to the casting facilities, where the molten aluminium is transformed into various finished goods.

"BALCO is undertaking robust initiatives towards decarbonization, such as innovating upon existing processes to increase energy savings and reduce GHG emissions. The successful pilot trial of biodiesel applications at our smelter encourages us to remain attuned to emerging technologies for reducing our carbon footprint. With excellence in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) central to how we operate, BALCO continues to proactively work towards bringing together business growth and environmental protection for sustainable socio-economic development," said Mr Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director, BALCO.

The two key pillars of BALCO's decarbonization path are energy efficiency and increased utilisation of renewable fuels. Through several energy-saving efforts, BALCO saved nearly 22,000 GJ of energy in FY 2022. With initiatives like these, BALCO is significantly advancing Vedanta's goal of being Net Zero Carbon by 2050 or earlier.

In addition to helping farmers make money, biodiesel is a type of fuel made from organic materials that, when burnt, emits much fewer greenhouse gases (GHG) than traditional, non-renewable fuels. This is consistent with the organization's ambitious goal to achieve Net Zero Carbon status by 2050 or before.

BALCO is attempting to achieve this goal by incorporating more renewable energy sources, such as biomass, biodiesel, and renewable energy, into its energy mix. For instance, the firm aims to increase the biomass it consumes to further reduce its dependency on fossil fuels. Its power plants use 40 to 50 tonnes of biomass briquettes daily.