Vedanta’s Road to Net Zero

As the global drive for decarbonisation gathers pace, the demand for clean energy solutions such as wind, solar, geothermal, and advanced storage systems is surging. According to the World Bank Group’s report “Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition”, achieving a below 2°C future will require more than 3 billion tonnes of minerals and metals, including aluminium, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt, silver, ferroalloys, steel, and iron. Meeting this unprecedented demand calls for bold vision, systemic transformation, and unwavering accountability.

Vedanta, India’s leading critical minerals, energy transition metals, oil & gas, power, and technology conglomerate, is at the forefront of powering this shift through its diverse business verticals.

The Big Goal

Vedanta has set a clear and ambitious target of achieving net zero by 2050. Its decarbonisation strategy is anchored on four key levers: scaling up renewable energy, switching to low-carbon fuels, enhancing energy and process efficiency, and deploying carbon offsets. The company has already pioneered breakthrough products such as India’s first low-carbon ‘green’ aluminium, Restora and Restora Ultra, and Asia’s first low-carbon ‘green’ zinc, EcoZen. These innovations are part of Vedanta’s broader product diversification strategy that caters to environmentally conscious customers who are committed to decarbonising their supply chains.

One Goal, Many Moving Parts

Every business vertical within Vedanta, whether aluminium, zinc, steel, oil & gas, or power, is contributing meaningfully to the company’s journey to net zero. Renewable energy is central to this transformation. Vedanta has renewable energy power delivery agreements (PDAs) of 1906 MW or 1.9 GW of installed capacity in place, and the company utilised 2.61 billion units of renewable energy in FY25. The company has set its sights on achieving 25 percent emissions reduction and 2.5 GW of round-the-clock renewable energy capacity by 2030. Over the last three years alone, Vedanta has mitigated 28 million tonnes of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of more than one billion trees. Biomass is also being integrated across operations, with 6.5 lakh gigajoules of energy generated in FY25, enough to power nearly 50,000 homes annually. Further innovation is evident at Vedanta’s operations, where battery electric vehicles, lithium-ion forklift fleets, and torrefied bio-pellet facilities are accelerating the decarbonisation journey.

Water stewardship forms another pillar of Vedanta’s sustainability efforts. With a water positivity score of 0.63 and three business units already achieving water positive status, the company is steadily progressing towards its target of becoming more than water positive by 2030. In FY25, Vedanta recycled 86 billion litres of wastewater, equivalent to the annual water needs of nearly four lakh Indian households. The company has also pioneered advanced solutions such as dry tailing plants, zero liquid discharge facilities, large-scale effluent treatment, sewage treatment, and extensive rainwater harvesting to conserve and responsibly manage water resources.

Vedanta is equally focused on waste-to-wealth and biodiversity initiatives. In FY25, the company achieved 114 percent utilisation of fly ash generated from its thermal power plants, turning potential waste into a valuable resource. More than 2.9 million trees have been planted since 2021 as part of the World Economic Forum’s Trillion Trees movement, while ecological restoration projects such as Miyawaki afforestation, mangrove plantations, and the reclamation of mined-out areas are contributing to biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration. In addition, Vedanta has strengthened circular economy practices by commissioning India’s first fumer plant for additional recovery of silver.

ESG at the Core

Vedanta’s legacy of over six decades is deeply intertwined with India’s rise as a global leader in natural resources and technology. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles form the core of the company’s DNA, guiding every strategic decision and operational action. From energy transition to water conservation, from circular economy to biodiversity enhancement, Vedanta is embedding sustainability across all its operations. The company’s Net Zero Road is not only about reducing emissions; it is about reshaping industries, enabling greener supply chains, and accelerating India’s transition to a sustainable, resource-secure economy.