Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has deployed Odisha’s first all-women power operations team, who will be responsible for managing a 135 MW power unit at its Jharsuguda facility. In the run-up to Women’s Day 2026, this comes as a significant reiteration of the company’s commitment to building a diverse workplace across its operations, while fostering greater inclusivity within India’s mining and metals industry.
Vedanta Aluminium’s mega plant in Jharsuguda features a power generation capacity of 3615 MW, which includes 4 units of 600 MW each and 9 units of 135 MW each. The all-women team is now set to handle the day-to-day operations of an entire 135MW thermal power generation unit. An initiative undertaken in partnership with business partner NGSL, qualified female engineers havel been onboarded across various operations and maintenance roles. Together, they represent diverse branches of engineering, including electricals and mechanical.
Rajiv Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “This initiative demonstrates that women are not just participating in heavy industry, they are leading critical operations. Entrusting a 135 MW power unit to an all-women team reflects our belief that capability defines leadership. As we progress toward 30% women representation by 2030, we remain committed to setting benchmarks for inclusive industrial growth in India.”
At Jharsuguda, this includes pioneering milestones such as India’s first all-women potline team, the company’s first all-women locomotive crew, and Agnivahini, its all-women fire and emergency response team, alongside being the first company in Odisha to introduce women employees into night-shift operations through the Shree Shakti initiative.
