Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 18, Indian mining company Vedanta has announced that coal will remain the primary energy source for its operations, despite efforts to incorporate more renewable energy. Currently, coal accounts for around 70% of Vedanta’s energy mix, but the company plans to reduce this reliance to 50–60% within three to four years. This will be achieved by increasing the share of renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hybrid energy sources.

Vedanta aims to reduce dependence on coal within three to four years.

In addition to diversifying its energy sources, Vedanta is investing in low-carbon products like aluminium and zinc, which are produced using renewable energy and hydrogen. These low-carbon products currently make up less than 20% of the company’s output, but Vedanta intends to expand production in this area.

The company is also exploring energy transitions in its international operations. Vedanta’s CEO, Deshnee Naidoo, commented: “Coal will be, for us in Vedanta, the baseload contributor. We are absolutely in production.”

In Zambia, where power outages can last up to 20 hours a day, Vedanta plans to build a 300MW power plant to support its mining operations. This plant will be split equally between coal and renewable energy. The company has also resumed copper production in Zambia, with output reaching 180,000–200,000 tonnes, a level last achieved in 2018. Over the next three years, Vedanta plans to increase its copper production to 300,000 tonnes, though no timeline has been set for listing its Zambian unit.

In India, Vedanta has no immediate plans to pursue lithium mining, citing the country’s untapped potential in the sector. Last month, the Indian government halted Vedanta’s proposal to restructure into four separate entities due to concerns over dues recovery. The government raised issues with the modified demerger scheme, which had already been approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Vedanta’s strategy reflects a balance between expanding its renewable energy footprint and continuing its reliance on coal as a stable energy source for its mining operations, especially in regions where renewable energy infrastructure is still developing.