Hindalco's goal to use 30% clean power may be met early

Hindalco Industries is likely to reach its target renewable power in its overall energy mix a few years ahead of its original schedule of 2030, as the Aluminium producer presses ahead with its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

- Naman Suri

"Once the first phase of the pumped hydro project (in Odisha) comes onstream, we believe it would pave the way for using this technology across our smelters and achieving 30% of our energy mix from renewable sources by 2030. This and our other sustainability projects might even help us achieve our target a couple of years earlier," said Satish Pai, managing director of the Mumbai-based company.

Hindalco aims to become carbon neutral by 2050, which means that the company would remove an equal quantity of carbon dioxide (CO2) that it would release into the atmosphere through its operations.

"Last quarter, we reported 19.6 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of aluminium and we believe in bringing it down below four, which is considered green if this pumped hydro plant works," said Pai, who also heads the executive committee of Vikaasa, a coalition of Indian businesses to drive the achievement of UN's Sustainable Development Goals.