India’s largest producer of aluminium, Vedanta Aluminium, is more than doubling the number of forklifts it has to create what some local media are saying is the world’s largest lithium-ion forklift fleet of 142 vehicles.

Vedanta has committed to decarbonising its light motor vehicle fleet by 2030 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The multi-phase rollout will see 116 forklifts deployed at the Jharsuguda smelter, and Vedanta has estimated this will eliminate some 4,450T of CO2 emissions each year and will reduce diesel consumption by around 1,630,000 litres.

The make and models of the new forklifts was not disclosed.

Rajiv Kumar, Vedanta Aluminium CEO, says the company views sustainability as more than a commitment, describing it as a catalyst for transformation. The company currently ranks second in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 world rankings for the aluminium industry.

In 2024, Vedanta Aluminium expanded its fleet from 44 to 66 electric lithium-ion forklifts at its sites and Lanjigarh in Odisha, as well as its BALCO smelter in Chhattisgarh.