“The induction of the BOBRN rake is a significant milestone in our operations. It will improve our rail coefficient, reduce turnaround times, and help ensure more reliable coal transportation, while significantly reducing costs and emissions.” Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer – Vedanta Aluminium
“The inclusion of BOBRN rakes have been instrumental in establishing a more robust supply chain while progressing towards the goal to become net zero by 2050.” Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director, BALCO
Vedanta Aluminium has inducted the Bogie Open Bottom Rapid discharge railway wagon with pneumatic door opening actuators (BOBRN) into the logistics system for coal transportation at its smelters in Jharsuguda, Odisha and Korba, Chhattisgarh. This initiative has been undertaken as part of the General Purpose Wagon Investment Scheme (GPWIS) launched by the Indian Railways, and will help in achieving enhanced operational efficiency and furthering sustainability goals.
The BOBRN type of railway wagons are designed to transport bulk quantities of coal between usage locations such as thermal power plants and ports. Uniquely, they can be unloaded from the bottom of the wagon directly into hopper pits, resulting in an efficient and rapid unloading process and reducing the turnaround time involved in material delivery.
Vedanta Aluminium operates the world’s largest aluminium plant in Jharsuguda and India’s iconic smelter, BALCO, at Korba, both of which require a continuous and reliable supply of power. The introduction of the BOBRN rake will, therefore, enable the company to improve the materialization of linkage coal, ensuring a steady and efficient supply for its operations. By leveraging the advantages of rail transportation, it will also be able to reduce overall production costs and optimize its supply chains. The move will also enable Vedanta Aluminium to significantly decrease its carbon footprint by relying on rail instead of road transportation via trucks, since rail movement has a lower per-ton CO2 emission rate.
Currently, Vedanta Aluminium operates four BOBRN captive coal rakes across its operations, and plans to expand its logistics capacity further by adding four additional rakes. This expansion will not only further boost operational efficiencies but also contribute towards the company’s efforts to integrate sustainable practices.
Commenting on the initiative, Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer – Vedanta Aluminium, said, said, “The induction of the BOBRN rake is a significant milestone in our operations. It will improve our rail coefficient, reduce turnaround times, and help ensure more reliable coal transportation, while significantly reducing costs and emissions. We are proud to contribute to the wider effort nationally to boost sustainability and energy efficiency, further reinforcing our focus on operational excellence.”
Speaking about the significance of the initiative, Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director, BALCO, said, “This step reinforces our commitment to enhancing operational efficiency while staying aligned with our sustainability goals. The inclusion of BOBRN rakes have been instrumental in establishing a more robust supply chain while progressing towards the goal to become net zero by 2050.”
Vedanta Aluminium has adopted a two-pronged approach of both reducing and offsetting its carbon footprint. These include measures such as increasing the quantum of renewables in its energy mix, enhancing its manufacturing excellence to optimise resource utilization and reduce wastage, and transitioning to low-carbon energy sources such as biofuels. Its smelters have been certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standards, a globally acknowledged indicator of sustainable operations.
