India's largest producer of aluminium, Vedanta Aluminium, has commissioned the country’s largest electric fleet of 27 forklifts, powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Vedanta Aluminiumhas added 27 lithium-ion forklifts
Supplied by Gemini Equipment and Rentals (GEAR) India, this feat sets the ball rolling on Vedanta Aluminium's plans to decarbonise its industrial vehicle fleet.
The 27 forklifts are being operationalised at the company's aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda.
Some other advantages of the green fleet include a significant reduction in diesel consumption and greenhouse gas emission savings of nearly 690 T of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Further, as testimony to its endeavours towards increasing gender diversity in core manufacturing operations, the company is recruiting and training women to operate the new forklifts.
"In line with our commitment of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050, our partnership with GEAR, to deploy one of India's largest and most technologically advanced electric forklift fleets, is a strong step in our journey of decarbonising our industrial vehicle fleet. We are also leveraging this avenue to increase women's participation in core operations by training women drivers to operate these smart forklifts,” says Rahul Sharma, CEO, Aluminium Business at Vedanta.
Vedanta Aluminium manufactures more than half of India's total aluminium output.