Hindalco highlights green initiatives across railways, EVs & e-waste recycling

• Hindalco commercialized its aluminium light weight rake that will save over 14,500 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.
• It’s investing ₹2,000 crore to make the first-of-its-kind copper and e-waste recycling facility in India.
• It is working with OEMs in the EV sector to co-develop components like battery enclosures, motor housings, busbars and more.
  

India’s metals major Hindalco has been active in the railways sector and has already commercialised the country’s first all-aluminium light weight rake. Going ahead, it plans to invest into the railway sector.

“We are excited to partner the Indian Railways and the passenger coach manufacturing ecosystem for the ambitious high-speed Vande Bharat trains. An investment of ₹2,000 crore is planned for the project and technology tie-ups are in place to bring new extrusion and fabrication technologies to India,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of Hindalco in his annual general meeting (AGM) address on Tuesday.

Hindalco also said it intends to support Indian Railways in its carbon journey. Its aluminium light weight rake enables higher speed and more payload per trip and will save over 14,500 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.

“We plan to introduce three more designs of freight wagons in the coming months targeting specific end use applications including bagged cement, and foodgrains,” Birla said.

Copper and E-waste recycling facility

Hindalco is also investing ₹2,000 crore to make the first-of-its-kind copper and e-waste recycling facility in India. E-waste is recognized as the foremost waste stream on a global scale, and its hazardous nature is compounded by improper handling leading to a significant loss of valuable materials.

At present, due to lack of advanced metal extraction and refining technologies domestically, a substantial volume of e-waste is exported to other nations.

“Bringing this cutting-edge technology to India marks a transformative step towards offering a tangible solution, aligned with your company and in fact, our nation’s circular economy agenda,” Birla said.

The aluminum and copper manufacturer is entering another ‘green’ sector of EVs. It is working with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to co-develop and manufacture critical components like battery enclosures, motor housings, busbars and more using engineered alloys and precision manufacturing facilities.

Its projects for battery foils, coated aluminium fins, aerospace grade extrusions are on track to make it an ideal partner for multiple industries. “It is therefore no exaggeration to say that there is an unmistakable energy running through your company, and it reflects in the performance,” Birla said.