Vedanta Aluminium’s Jamkhani Mine Receives 4-Star Rating for Sustainable Operations

Vedanta Aluminium’s Jamkhani coal mine in Sundargarh, Odisha, has been awarded a 4-Star rating by the Ministry of Coal for the financial year 2023–24. The mine received a score of 83 out of 100 in the Ministry’s annual star rating assessment, which evaluates coal mines on parameters including scientific operations, environmental practices, compliance, and safety.

Operational since November 2022, the Jamkhani mine is among the newer entrants to achieve a high rating in a short time span. The mine contributes to Vedanta’s aim of achieving full vertical integration and reducing dependence on coal imports.

The Ministry’s star rating framework, introduced in 2019, assesses mines based on factors such as technological adoption, land and resettlement management, economic performance, and employee welfare, with an emphasis on sustainable mining practices.

Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, stated that the recognition highlights the mine’s progress in areas such as safety, digital integration, and environmental management.

The mine has installed air and water management systems that include real-time monitoring, rooftop rainwater harvesting with a capacity of 4,200 kilolitres, and groundwater recharge structures capable of storing nearly 100,000 cubic metres. Supporting infrastructure like settling ponds, sumps, and observation wells also contribute to water conservation efforts.

Additionally, the mine is engaged in topsoil management for biological reclamation and is implementing ISO:9001 Quality Management Systems. The company has also taken up afforestation using the Miyawaki method, with plans to plant 3.65 lakh saplings across 18 hectares along the mine’s boundary this financial year.

Digital technologies have been integrated into the mine’s operations, including drone-assisted blasting zone clearance, digital dashboards, real-time analytics, and the Time-in-Use Model (TUM) for monitoring coal output and equipment utilisation.

Jamkhani is Vedanta’s first greenfield coal mine and the first privately developed greenfield coal mine in Odisha under the auction-based allocation system. It plays a key role in supporting Vedanta’s aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda, one of the largest of its kind globally.

Vedanta Aluminium produced 2.42 million tonnes of aluminium in FY2025, making up over half of India’s total output. The company also ranked second globally in the aluminium sector in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024.