Vedanta Aluminium’s Green Push with Restora And Fully Green Facility In Odisha

In an exclusive interview with Wire & Cable India, Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Vedanta Aluminium’s newly appointed CEO, talks about the key focus areas of the company– operational excellence, sustainability, and innovation. At the heart is the green vision Restora, India’s first low-carbon aluminium brand, produced using renewable energy and aimed at decarbonizing global supply chains. Reinforcing this commitment, the company has announced a landmark investment of INR 1 lakh crore to establish a 6 million tonne per annum alumina refinery and a 3 million tonne per annum fully green aluminium facility in Rayagada, Odisha. The focus will also be on digitalisation and automation across operations, with data-driven decisions a priority.

Wire & Cable India: How do you envision leading the company into its next phase of growth? What are the key strategic priorities you plan to focus on during your tenure as the CEO of Vedanta Aluminium?

Rajiv Kumar: My vision for the company’s next phase of growth revolves around three key priorities: operational excellence, sustainability, and innovation.

We will focus on enhancing operational efficiency and integrating digital technologies to boost productivity and remain cost efficient. Sustainability remains central to our strategy, with ongoing initiatives like the development of the upcoming fully green aluminium plant, which will strengthen our competitive position and further expand our market reach. Innovation and digitalization will be key drivers of our transformation. I also plan to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and processes to improve efficiency and unlock new growth avenues.

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WCI: As an expert who has successfully navigated the steel industry, how do you plan to adapt and apply your experience to the unique challenges of the aluminium sector at Vedanta Aluminium?

RK: While steel and aluminium are indeed distinct industries, they share significant overlaps when it comes to managing large-scale operations, optimizing production processes, and driving continuous improvement. Both industries are critical to nation building, and with this comes the immense responsibility to strategically govern these sectors and ensure availability for India’s growing needs.

In my previous stint, I led operational transformation and strategic initiatives that equipped me with skills in process optimization, digitalization, and ensuring consistent business excellence, all of which are directly relevant to my current role. Operational excellence will continue to remain a key priority at Vedanta Aluminium. Vedanta 2.0 envisions leveraging digital transformation and automation across operations. Therefore, I will be driving best practices by streamlining production through data-driven decisions, automation, and advanced process controls, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

At the entity level, my focus will be on executing the demerger plan to unlock shareholder value, forging strategic partnerships to enhance market access, and advancing marketing and business development to strengthen global leadership.

WCI: The wire and cable industry is becoming more competitive and technology driven. How do you plan to leverage your operations experience to enhance Vedanta Aluminium’s product offerings and its production processes to stay ahead of industry trends?

RK: Vedanta Aluminium is India’s largest aluminium producer and a global leader in wire rod production. Aluminium’s high strength, light weight, conductivity, and corrosion resistance make it essential for the wire and cable industry. We offer several tailored solutions catering to the needs of our customers in this sector. For example, our high strength low sag wire rods, with up to 99.99% purity, deliver superior conductivity and durability compared to conventional conductors, ensuring efficient long-distance power distribution. We continue to invest in R&D efforts, developing new alloys and conductor solutions for sectors like 5G, smart grids, and electric mobility, while also creating customized variants for niche applications.

We actively leverage Industry 4.0 technologies to enhance manufacturing efficiency. Real-time data analytics in our rolling mills optimize production and improve product quality, while digital twin technology helps proactively address maintenance issues and minimize downtime. Through collaborations with technology leaders and startups, we are enhancing our supply chain systems and inventory management, ensuring our products meet the evolving needs of industries worldwide while maintaining operational excellence.

WCI: Please tell us about the recent developments and future investment plans of Vedanta Aluminium.

RK: Vedanta Aluminium is at an exciting phase. We have recently announced INR 1 lakh crore in fresh investments to build a 6 million tonne per annum alumina refinery and a 3 million tonne per year aluminium facility in Rayagada, Odisha. Entirely powered by renewable energy, this aligns perfectly with Vedanta’s net zero carbon goals.
We are also planning to increase our share of value-added products, including wire rods, in our portfolio from 60% to 90%. These will serve the needs of diverse sectors like power transmission and distribution, automotive, aerospace, and construction.

WCI: What opportunities, threats and challenges do you foresee in the industry? Share your personal points of excitement and fear.

RK: The aluminium industry is at an exciting crossroads, poised for strong and sustained growth driven by rising demand from sectors like automotive, construction, and energy transition. Aluminium is clearly the metal of the future, especially given its role in accelerating the energy transition and being increasingly used in electric vehicles, solar panels, and battery enclosures. At the same time, we see growing interest in low-carbon aluminium by companies looking at decarbonizing their supply chains. Vedanta is the first Indian company to produce low-carbon, “green” aluminium which is sold under the Restora and Restora Ultra brands. We are already supplying these to companies outside India. In terms of challenges, there are geopolitical risks, trade barriers, and supply chain volatility that can impact industry access to key raw materials. However, on the whole, the outlook is positive.

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WCI: Sustainability is a key concern in today’s industrial landscape. What steps is Vedanta Aluminium taking to reduce its environmental impact, especially in the production of aluminium for wire and cable applications?

RK: At Vedanta Aluminium, sustainability is an integral aspect of our core operations and value system. We firmly believe that to unlock meaningful growth for India, we must do so in a responsible manner, minimizing environmental impact while driving industrial progress. As part of this commitment, we have developed a green portfolio under the brand Restora – India’s first low-carbon aluminium, produced using renewable energy. It encompasses our diverse product offerings, including wire rods, billets, and more. We also have long-term agreements in place for sourcing renewable energy to power our operations, and are also deploying alternative fuel sources such as biomass and natural gas to power our operations. These initiatives are a testament to our ongoing effort to reduce our carbon footprint, all the while maintaining the highest standards of quality and performance in aluminium production.

In addition, as mentioned earlier, we have plans to establish the country’s first fully green aluminium plant, which will be powered entirely by renewable energy. This state-of-the-art facility will not only help reduce the environmental impact of production but also drive innovation within the industry. It forms a crucial part of our broader sustainability strategy. At Vedanta Aluminium, we are committed to deploying sustainable practices that create a positive environmental footprint for future generations.