In a move that significantly strengthens India’s position in the global metals market, Vedanta Aluminium announced on Wednesday that it has successfully increased the capacity of its Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha from 2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 5 MTPA.
The expansion, which began in 2020, marks a major milestone for the company and the Indian industrial sector. With this ramp-up, India’s total alumina refining capacity is expected to reach approximately 13 MTPA, positioning the country as the world’s third-largest producer of alumina.
Record-Breaking Performance
The refinery is already showing the impact of the expansion. In November, the Lanjigarh facility achieved its highest-ever monthly production of 254 kilotonnes (KT). This represents a 68% increase compared to the same month last year and an 8% growth over October.
Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, described the expansion as a critical step toward creating a “resilient, world-class aluminium value chain.”
“Scaling our Lanjigarh operations to 5 MTPA is both a capacity milestone and a step toward responsible resource development and innovation,” Kumar said in a statement. “Our record monthly outputs reflect our commitment to long-term value creation for the nation.”
Strategic Impact
Alumina is the primary raw material used to produce aluminium. By more than doubling its refining capacity at Lanjigarh, Vedanta is reducing its reliance on imports and strengthening the domestic supply chain. This move aligns with the broader national goal of industrial self-reliance and caters to the rising global demand for aluminium, which is essential for sectors ranging from aerospace and automotive to renewable energy and construction.
The Lanjigarh refinery, located in the Kalahandi district of Odisha, has long been a centerpiece of Vedanta’s operations. The successful scale-up is expected to drive further economic growth in the region while solidifying Vedanta’s status as a top-tier global player in the aluminium industry.
