Vedanta’s Rs 40,991 crore aluminium project in Odisha to generate 7,200 jobs; everything to know

In a major push to boost the country’s aluminium manufacturing capacity, Vedanta Ltd is moving ahead with the construction of a state-of-the-art greenfield aluminium smelter in Odisha’s Rayagada district.

With an investment of Rs 40,991 crore, the project is expected to create 7,200 jobs and strengthen Odisha’s role as a centre of industrial activity. The deal was officially approved by the Odisha government’s High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA).

Details of the smelter, its operations, and employment potential offer a key insight. This project forms a part of a larger Rs 91,528 crore dual investment in Rayagada, which includes a 6 MTPA alumina refinery.

What the Plant Will Be About:

The 1.2 MTPA aluminium smelter will be a high-tech facility dedicated to producing high-quality aluminium for a range of sectors, including automotive, aerospace, construction, packaging, and electronics. It will play a key role in Vedanta’s strategy to position India as a major player in the global aluminium market.

How the Plant Will Operate:

Raw Material Processing: The smelter will process alumina sourced from Vedanta’s planned 6 MTPA refinery in Rayagada.

Electrolysis: Using the Hall-Héroult process, alumina will be dissolved in molten cryolite and subjected to electrolysis to yield pure aluminium.

Casting and Rolling: The aluminium will be cast into ingots, billets, and sheets for downstream industrial use.

Sustainability Measures: Vedanta plans to incorporate energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy sources, carbon capture, and waste recycling.

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Types of Jobs the Plant Will Generate:

The project is expected to create approximately 7,200 new jobs across technical and non-technical domains. While official role-wise distributions have not been published, probable positions can be inferred from Vedanta’s ongoing operations and similar industrial setups.

In technical fields, likely roles include metallurgical, mechanical, and electrical engineers, as well as process technicians and quality control specialists. Environmental engineers may also play a key role in overseeing sustainability and compliance.

Non-technical positions are expected to encompass administrative, IT, and finance professionals, along with supply chain managers, safety officers, skilled labourers, and logistics personnel. These roles will support production, operational logistics, regulatory adherence, and community outreach.

Vedanta’s existing local employment initiative, Project Utthan, has already employed over 270 graduates from Kalahandi and Rayagada at its Lanjigarh alumina refinery. Similar employment and training programs are expected to support the Rayagada smelter, strengthening its integration with the local economy.

Why Rayagada?

Rayagada was selected due to its proximity to the Sijimali bauxite mines, which Vedanta is currently developing. Additionally, the location ensures reliable raw material access and efficient supply chain logistics, reducing operational costs.

Who is Behind the Initiative?

Vedanta Group, led by Chairman Anil Agarwal, is driving the project. The company already operates a 3.5 MTPA alumina refinery in Lanjigarh and a 1.8 MTPA smelter in Jharsuguda. Its cumulative investment in Odisha is expected to surpass Rs 1 trillion.

Government Approvals and Broader Industrial Push

Odisha’s High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, recently cleared ten mega-projects worth Rs 1.65 lakh crore. This includes Vedanta’s aluminium projects and other ventures in green hydrogen, engineering goods, and rare earth minerals, aiming to generate over 51,000 jobs statewide.

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Further, at a recent investment summit in New Delhi, the Odisha government signed MoUs worth Rs 98,880 crore with leading firms, including IOCL and Petronet LNG, demonstrating strong investor interest.