The Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), aluminium producer and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, has been awarded the ‘PAT Top Performer’ award for its efforts towards energy conservation under the Government of India’s Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) Scheme. The award was presented by the Honourable Minister of Power, New & Renewable Energy, Shri R K Singh, on the occasion of the 21st Foundation Day of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
PAT is a scheme implemented under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to encourage energy-intensive industries to reduce their specific energy consumption, with an associated market-based mechanism whereby companies can trade certificates earned on the basis of excess energy savings. BALCO is recognised as a Top Performer Designated Consumer for the Aluminium Sector for PAT Cycle-II, with the highest number of Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts) under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).
BALCO aspires to be at the forefront of sustainable business practices and be the benchmark for the aluminium industry. It has deployed the most resource and energy processes, such as adoption of clean technologies and inclusion of renewable energy in its energy mix. Receiving the Government of India’s PAT Top Performer Award is a testament to these principles of sustainability that are deeply embedded in BALCO’s production processes, as per Rajesh Kumar, CEO & Director, BALCO.
BALCO has introduced 100 per cent graphitized cathodes in pot rooms and also undertaken pot controller upgradation in its potlines, which has resulted in a significant reduction in its specific power consumption under PAT Cycle II. The company has been successful in increasing savings in its specific energy consumption from 2 per cent to 36 per cent during PAT Cycle II and making a significant mark on energy efficiency under the PAT scheme.