Vedanta Aluminium, V‑Spark launch MetALverse in Odisha; partners with OpenAI, Microsoft, SAP to unlock ₹2,100 crore AI‑driven value

Several MoUs to deploy deep tech solutions were announced during MetALverse, Vedanta Aluminium’s tech showcase in Jharsuguda, Odisha that featured participation from major tech leaders and emerging startups

Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, in collaboration with V-Spark, India's largest manufacturing deep tech incubator, recently hosted MetALverse, an immersive tech showcase in Jharsuguda, Odisha. The company also announced partnerships with several cutting-edge technology providers, including market leaders such as OpenAI, Microsoft and SAP. Together, they will deploy innovative, multi-pronged solutions to cumulatively unlock up to ₹2,100 crore in value through the enhanced adoption of AI, digitalisation and automation technologies across Vedanta Aluminium’s operations.

Vedanta Aluminium’s MetALverse event was envisioned as a strategic platform to accelerate the deployment of breakthrough technologies across large-scale industrial operations, by bringing together global technology leaders, emerging startups, and top business experts. The partnerships will focus on evaluating, piloting and scaling next-generation solutions across Vedanta Aluminium’s operations. The value opportunity of ₹2,100 crore will be achieved through the integration of innovative solutions for enhanced plant productivity, cost optimisation, asset reliability and sustainability initiatives across Vedanta Aluminium's integrated value chain.

The event reflects a shared vision between Vedanta Aluminium and V-Spark to bridge the gap between groundbreaking deep tech innovation and real-world deployment, by identifying high-impact technologies, validating them in live operating environments and accelerating their adoption. Vedanta Aluminium has already established a fully integrated value chain that ranges from mining to alumina refining to aluminium production. By leveraging the company’s vast, cutting-edge manufacturing plants - some of which are amongst the largest in the world - as a mega incubation environment, V-Spark aims to rapidly transform promising innovations into industry-ready deployments while also co-creating a robust AI-led manufacturing ecosystem.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Limited and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc, said "India’s manufacturing sector is entering a defining decade. The future will belong to companies that combine scale with intelligence, sustainability and the courage to rethink what is possible. At Vedanta Aluminium, we see AI as a catalyst for that transformation, with human intelligence providing the judgement and direction behind it. We are bringing together the best minds across industry and technology because we don’t want to simply make today’s plants better. We want to build the metal of the future, using the technologies of the future."

Akarsh Hebbar, Non-Executive Vice Chairman, Vedanta Aluminium and Chairman, V-Spark DeepTech Ventures, said "The greatest opportunity in industrial innovation lies in deploying new technologies at scale to create measurable business value. Vedanta Aluminium, as one of the top producers of the metal of the future globally, provides the expansive operating footprint, technical depth and determination to industrialise breakthrough solutions, while V-Spark is the engine that identifies, validates and accelerates these technologies from concept to enterprise-wide deployment. We aim to partner with several industrial solutions to scale and transform creative innovation into tangible productivity gains, stronger sustainability, enhanced reliability and significant value creation."

Pinak Dattaray, Founder & CEO, Ripik.AI, said "AI is creating new opportunities for industrial organisations to transform how knowledge is accessed, decisions are made and operations are managed. At Ripik.AI, we are focused on making advanced AI capabilities accessible through tools that help people and organisations solve complex problems and work more effectively. We are excited to collaborate with Vedanta Aluminium as it explores new applications of AI across its business. The company demonstrates how leading manufacturers can combine deep operational expertise with cutting-edge AI to unlock innovation, improve performance and create meaningful value at scale."

At MetALverse, Vedanta Aluminium announced collaborations with several top technology companies and emerging innovators to accelerate AI-led transformation across its operations. The identified partners include OpenAI for generative AI and intelligent agents; Microsoft for cloud, AI and enterprise transformation; SAP for integrated enterprise processes; AVEVA for industrial data, digital twins and advanced analytics; Rockwell Automation for smart manufacturing and control systems; Thoughtworks for digital engineering; and Fives for aluminium process technologies and carbon plant optimisation. The company has also partnered with deep-tech innovators including Ripik.AI for industrial vision and process optimisation; XYMA for high-temperature asset monitoring; Faclon for industrial intelligence and connected manufacturing; DesignX for AI-enabled factory workflows; DigitalPaani for industrial water optimisation; AutoVRse for immersive workforce training; Enmovil for AI-led logistics; and ideaForge for drone-based industrial intelligence.

These collaborations will focus on technical evaluation, data integration, pilot deployment and scale-up potential. Through its V-Spark innovation ecosystem, the company aims to rapidly validate and deploy solutions that strengthen productivity, safety, sustainability, asset reliability and operational decision-making. Presently, Vedanta Aluminium is actively collaborating with nearly 70 startups under the program, spanning one of the world’s largest alumina refineries in Lanjigarh, Odisha, the world’s largest single-location aluminium plant in Jharsuguda, Odisha, and India’s iconic aluminium producer, BALCO in Korba, Chhattisgarh.

About Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited:

Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited is one of the world’s leading producers of aluminium, ‘the Metal of the Future’ powering advanced manufacturing, the energy transition, and next generation technologies. As India’s largest aluminium producer, the Company operates integrated, world-class assets including a state-of-the-art alumina refinery, one of the world’s largest aluminium smelter complex in Odisha, and the iconic Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO). With a diverse portfolio of high-quality aluminium products, Vedanta Aluminium caters to discerning customers across more than 60 countries and plays a vital role in global industrial supply chains. The company is recognised among global peers for its sustainability leadership, as reflected in its strong performance in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. By advancing the possibilities of aluminium - the Metal of the Future - Vedanta Aluminium continues to enable next generation industries while creating enduring value for customers, communities, and shareholders. For more information, visit: https://vedantaaluminium.com/

About V-Spark DeepTech Ventures:

V-Spark DeepTech Ventures Pvt. Ltd., Vedanta’s dedicated deep-tech and innovation arm, is accelerating technology-led transformation across the Group’s mining, metals and manufacturing businesses. Operating as a venture-client platform for all Vedanta entities, V-Spark partners closely with startups, MSMEs and global technology leaders to rapidly pilot, deploy and scale cutting-edge solutions across AI/ML, automation, robotics, drones, computer vision and advanced digital technologies. With a strong focus on operational excellence, volume-cost optimisation, reliability, sustainability and ESG integration, the platform is also enabling strategic investments in future-ready innovations. Through its robust global startup ecosystem and scalable innovation capabilities, V-Spark is positioning Vedanta at the forefront of industrial deep-tech adoption and next-generation manufacturing transformation.

Vedanta Deploys India’s First High‑Speed Portable Rig to Unlock Gold and Critical Minerals

India's First Portable Rig for Gold  Critical Mineral Exploration_Vedanta Employee at Site in Chhattisgarh

• Built for inaccessible and tough terrains, it is the first high-speed hydrostatic portable rig in India that can carry out high-speed drilling up to 1,000 metres. 
• Vedanta holds the largest number of critical mineral blocks; poised to back India's bid to cut import dependence as global demand is expected to triple by 2030

Vedanta Limited (NSE: VEDL; BSE: 500295), a leading global producer of metals, critical minerals and technology, that powers the industries of today and is incubating the industries of tomorrow, has reinforced its commitment to technology-led innovation by commissioning India's first-ever high-tech, high-speed hydrostatic portable rig equipped with advanced safety features. The rigs have been deployed at two of Vedanta's flagship exploration projects in Chhattisgarh dedicated to gold and exploration of critical minerals such as nickel, chromium and platinum group elements.

Critical mineral exploration demands exceptional technical expertise and deep-shaft mining capabilities, a high-barrier domain where Vedanta stands out among a select few national and global players. As the energy transition accelerates, Vedanta is uniquely positioned to bridge the critical mineral deficit by leveraging its integrated smelting infrastructure and advanced geological tech to unlock complex blocks.

Purpose-built for inaccessible and tough terrains, this rig can carry out high-speed drilling up to 1,000 metres compared to the typical 300–400 metre range, without losing precious time in inter-location movement — a first for exploration capability in the country. The deployment marks a significant leap in Vedanta's exploration infrastructure, enabling faster, safer, minimally intrusive and more efficient access to India's largely untapped mineral reserves.

Vedanta has placed itself at the forefront of India's critical minerals push, being the only company to have secured 10 critical mineral blocks across gold, manganese, copper, nickel-chromium-PGE (Platinum Group of Elements) tungsten, graphite, vanadium, rare earth elements and potash, with exploration already underway across five blocks. Recently, Vedanta has also been declared the Successful Bidder for the Punnam Manganese Block in Andhra Pradesh.

India's Untapped Mineral Potential

The government estimates suggest close to 80% of India's mineral resources remain unexplored. Gold is vital for medical applications, high-reliability electronics and other strategic industries, while critical minerals such as copper and nickel underpin AI infrastructure and data centres, renewable energy, electric mobility, defence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. India's task is to move beyond extraction alone and build capability across exploration, mining, processing, refining, recycling and manufacturing.

The opportunity is simple: India's resource advantage will be won not by what lies beneath the ground, but by how much value it builds above it.

According to the International Energy Agency, global critical mineral demand for clean energy technologies is projected to nearly triple by 2030 under its Net Zero Emissions Scenario, and quadruple by 2040, reaching close to 40 million tonnes annually. This has accelerated efforts by countries to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from dependence on any single country or source, positioning India as a natural partner in the shift. India holds substantial reserves of rare earth elements and critical minerals, giving it strong potential to become a key player in global supply chains though the country remains largely import-dependent despite this geological potential.

Vedanta 2.0 – Transformation through Technology

Vedanta 2.0 represents the group's vision to build a technology-driven, future-facing conglomerate centred on sustainable growth. While strengthening its core businesses, the group is simultaneously expanding into critical minerals as part of the clean-energy value chain, having secured several new mineral blocks and stepped-up exploration activity.

Vedanta Group holds a differentiated position as one of the few Indian companies with mineral assets spread across India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia and Zambia, giving it access to diverse, high-potential reserves. The company plans to expand into new geographies with stable regulatory environments, deepen value-added processing within India, and build mining partnerships aligned with global environmental, social and governance standards.

Serentica Renewables Commissions Phase 1 of its 1 GWh Battery Energy Storage System in Bikaner

Serentica Renewables, the renewable energy arm of the Vedanta Group and a leading renewable energy provider in India, today announced the commissioning of Phase 1 of its 1 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Bikaner. The milestone marks the entry into utility scale energy storage for the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) sector and represents a significant step towards delivering reliable, dispatchable renewable energy to India's energy intensive industries.

The first phase comprises a 200 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that stores surplus renewable energy generated during the day and discharges it during peak demand hours, enabling the supply of clean power during nighttime. The project has been developed with a modular architecture that offers operational flexibility, scalability and rapid response capabilities, while strengthening grid stability and supporting higher integration of renewable energy.

The Bikaner project powers one of the world's first time block Round the Clock (RTC) renewable power arrangements for industrial consumers, demonstrating how battery storage can transform intermittent renewable energy into dependable, 24x7 clean power. The commissioning marks an important milestone in Serentica's vision of delivering firm, dispatchable renewable energy solutions that enable industries to decarbonize without compromising operational reliability.

Akshay Hiranandani, CEO, Serentica Renewables, said, "Battery Energy Storage Systems will play a defining role in the next phase of India's clean energy transition by making renewable energy available whenever it is needed. The commissioning of Phase 1 of our 1 GWh BESS is a significant milestone in our journey to deliver reliable, round the clock renewable energy for India's industrial sector. By integrating advanced storage with renewable generation, we are creating a future ready energy ecosystem that combines sustainability, reliability and flexibility for our customers."

The commissioning of the Bikaner BESS marks the first step in Serentica's broader energy storage strategy. With a planned 7 GWh battery order pipeline over the next two years, the company is building one of India's largest battery storage portfolios for the C&I segment, reinforcing its commitment to delivering reliable, sustainable and round-the-clock clean energy solutions at scale.

Vedanta’s 20 Lakh+ Retail Shareholders to Benefit as Demerger Enters Final Phase

Mining and natural resources major Vedanta’s much-anticipated demerger, which will create five sector-specific entities, has entered its final phase. The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal reserved its judgment in November, with a likely pronouncement in December 2025.

Proposed in September 2023, the demerger has been delayed by court-related procedures, taking over two years and now entering its final phase.

Vedanta Limited is one of India’s largest mining and natural resources companies. The demerger is likely to result in significant value creation for shareholders, as metal prices have rallied this year, driving a year-to-date surge of nearly 20% in the Vedanta stock.

As of September 2025, Vedanta has nearly 2021184 retail shareholders (resident individuals), who collectively hold almost 44.63 crore shares in the company. Vedanta also has investments by almost 25,000 Non-Residential Indians, who collectively hold 1.79 crore shares in the company.

Vedanta is a leading Indian natural resources company with a significant global footprint. It has proposed demerging its business units into independent “pure play” companies to unlock value and attract big-ticket investment for expansion and growth.

The company has an asset portfolio comprising zinc, silver, lead, aluminium, chromium, copper, nickel, oil and gas, a traditional ferrous vertical including iron ore and steel, and power, including coal and renewable energy.

After the demerger, each independent entity will have greater freedom to grow to its full potential and realize its true value through independent management, capital allocation, and niche growth strategies. It will also give global and Indian investors the possibility to invest in their preferred vertical, broadening the investor base for Vedanta assets.

The de-merger is planned to be a simple vertical split; for every one share of Vedanta Limited, the shareholders will additionally receive one share of each of the demerged companies.

The demerger will benefit Vedanta’s shareholders as it will simplify Vedanta’s corporate structure with sector-focused independent businesses. It will also provide global investors, including sovereign wealth funds, retail investors, and strategic investors, with direct investment opportunities in dedicated, pure-play companies linked to India’s remarkable growth.

Due to the demerger, each demerged company will have self-driven management teams, providing a platform for individual units to pursue strategic agendas more freely and better align with customers, investment cycles, and end markets. The demerger will also enable investors to value the growth stories within Vedanta’s businesses easily.

Vedanta Resources Raises $1.1 Bn Through a New Dual Tranche Bond Issuance

• Marquee investors from the United States, EMEA and Asia amongst major investors.
• Bonds are expected to be rated ‘B’ by S&P Global and ‘B2’ by Moody’s Ratings
• Moody's upgraded VRL corporate family rating (CFR) to B1 from B2 on back of recent moves.
• VRL has raised $3.1bn in USD bonds since September 2024.

Vedanta Resources has raised $1.1 billion through a new dual tranche issuance in international debt capital markets, the company said in a Singapore exchange filing.

As per the exchange filing, the bond issuance consists of two tranches – a $550mn tranche of 5.5 years tenor at 9.475% interest rate and a $550mn tranche of 8.25 years tenor at 9.850% interest rate. Both tranches garnered strong investor demand with the bonds receiving final orders of $3.4 bn from over 135 accounts, representing an oversubscription of 3.1x, the company said. The net proceeds will be used to prepay VRL’s outstanding bonds and pay any related transaction costs.

The final bonds allocation included 61% from Asia, 30% from EMEA, and 9% from US for the 5.5-Year Tranche and 54% from Asia, 30% from EMEA, and 16% from US for the 8.25-Year Tranche.

Ajay Goel, Chief Financial Officer said

The latest transaction marks the complete refinancing of Vedanta’s restructured bonds. The strong interest in the series of transactions reflects significant investor confidence in the several strategic steps that Vedanta has taken over the last several quarters in terms of delivering record production, cost rationalization and deleveraging.

VRL has refinanced $3.1bn in US dollar bonds since September 2024 through four successive international bond transactions. The total quantum of USD bonds raised by Vedanta marks the largest amount raised by an Indian issuer since 2022. The issuance marks an important step for VRL which has reduced it's debt by $4.6 billion over the past 3 years, bringing it to its lowest level in a decade.

Two major agencies, Moody’s and S&P Global upgraded VRL's and its instruments’ ratings citing recent developments. On January 13, Moody's said it had upgraded VRL’s corporate family rating to B1 from B2 and that on the senior unsecured bonds guaranteed by VRL to B2 from B3, a one notch upgrade, while maintaining a stable outlook. Moody’s has assigned a B2 rating to VRL's proposed senior unsecured bond issuance.

S&P Global too assigned a preliminary rating of ‘B’ on VRL’s senior unsecured notes on January 13. This is one notch upgrade from the current one. It has placed the rating on credit watch positive.

BALCO Employee Secures All India Rank 1 in UPSC Combined Geo-scientist Examination-2020

Vedanta employee Toshit Trivedi secures AIR 1 in UPSC exam

New Delhi, 6th August, 2021: Vedanta Aluminium Business, India’s largest producer of aluminium and value-added products, employee Toshit Trivedi secures the coveted All India Rank 1 in the prestigious UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination-2020. 

Toshit has been working as a geologist at Chotia mines, based at Vedanta’s Chhattisgarh based-subsidiary, Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO). Hailing from Banswara, Rajasthan, Toshit has completed his Post Graduation from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and was a gold medalist in both UG & PG courses. This was his first attempt at the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist exam. He aspires to join the Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines, Government of India, as a Scientific Officer ‘Group A’, and contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country.

Extending his congratulations, Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director, BALCO, said -

Toshit is a very talented and focused young man, who is determined to make a difference with his professional aspirations. The BALCO family is immensely proud of his superlative achievement, and we wish him the best in his career! At BALCO, we firmly believe that our people are our greatest assets and strive to enable them for fulfilling their personal and professional aspirations by providing a meaningful, supportive, and empowering environment. Toshit is an illustrious example of the quality of our talent pool, and we are committed to the holistic growth and development of our entire workforce.

Highly motivated and jubilant after his stellar success, Toshit says, “I am deeply thankful to my parents, teachers, colleagues and friends for their constant support and motivation. I am grateful and privileged to have been a part of this esteemed organization and take this opportunity to thank Vedanta and BALCO for all the support and cooperation that they have extended throughout my journey here. Working as a geologist with the Chotia team gave me a sound technical exposure. With that enriching experience to guide me, I look forward to serving the nation to the best of my abilities.”

Vedanta Aluminium fosters a Culture of Care that extends to its people, communities, and the environment. The company has adopted global best-in-class practices and cutting-edge technologies to propel its endeavors towards the same. An equal opportunity employer and a strong advocate for diversity at workplace, BALCO has deployed Vedanta’s best-in-industry talent management programs and rewards & recognition schemes for its employees. Few examples:

• Vice Chairman’s Internal Growth Workshop, a robust programme for identifying high potential employees early on in their careers and giving them enhanced roles and responsibilities, followed by a structured review mechanism to map their growth and performance. 1000+ leaders have been groomed via this initiative across various businesses.
• V-REACH (Graduate Development Programme), a programme that seeks to identify and develop young leaders from the graduate employees’ cadre and map them to significantly elevated roles.
• V-LEAD (Diversity Development Programme) to identify highly potential women candidates early on and groom them into leadership roles.
• Equal opportunity employer – Vedanta’s ethos of gender-agnostic job roles have seen the company become India’s first to have women as mine managers, a feat of true women empowerment.
• ACT-UP, a talent identification assessment programme, is conducted company-wide each year through which hundreds of ‘Business Stars’ and ‘Technical Stars’ are identified for accelerated career development with customized Individual Development Plans (IDP).
• Through V-CONNECT, a robust mentorship programme, Vedanta has mapped each high potential employee with a mentor to guide them through a personal and professional development journey.
• Chairman’s Awards and CEO’s Awards have been instituted to acknowledge exemplary contribution by employees to further the organizational goals.

Vedanta Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium, producing half of India’s aluminium i.e., 1.96 million tonnes in FY21. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class Aluminium Smelters, Alumina Refinery and Power Plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.