Vedanta’s BALCO unveils museum to preserve its celebrated origins

Korba (Balconagar) 26th April 2023: The Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, has unveiled the BALCO Museum and Learning Centre, an initiative to preserve its celebrated origins as independent India’s first Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), which has since contributed significantly towards leading the nation onto the path of industrial progress. In the spirit of World Heritage Day (observed on April 18), which recognises the need to protect and preserve sites of cultural and historic importance, the museum also seeks to record BALCO’s continuous evolution and ascent ever since first commencing operations.
The museum houses several items representing BALCO’s rich legacy, in the form of industrial and office equipment from its earliest days, first bauxite mined and alumina powder produced, miniature versions of the first products (Ingot, Rolled Sheet and Wire Rods) ever manufactured, a Wall of History depicting the journey of the company over the years, and other exhibits. The BALCO Museum also acts as a learning centre for new recruits to truly appreciate the journey of India’s aluminium industry and get inspired by the several milestones notched by the company since its inception. Located within BALCO’s plant premises in Korba, Chhattisgarh, guests visiting BALCO can request a tour of the Museum.
India’s first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, envisioned BALCO as a ‘Temple of Modern India’. It was incorporated in the year 1965. In 2001, the Govt. of India divested 51% of BALCO’s shares to Vedanta Limited, marking the beginning of one of India’s greatest privatization success stories. Since then, the company has clocked unprecedented growth from 100 KTPA in FY01 to 575 KTPA in FY20, through the deployment of world-class technologies and operational excellence.
Speaking about the development of the BALCO Museum, Mr Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director, BALCO said, “Since its inception, BALCO has been at the forefront of India’s industrial growth, scripting the dawn of the nation’s aluminium revolution. The BALCO Museum serves to preserve its rich history over the years, acting as a reminder of how far we have come and inspiring us to reach for higher benchmarks. What started with rudimentary equipment and simplistic products, has now evolved into one of India’s leading aluminium producers with unbeatable operational excellence and an illustrious multi-country customer network. As India’s iconic aluminium producer, we recommit to leading India’s manufacturing prowess, making high-quality aluminium products for India and the world.”
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 49% by the Government of India and 51% by Vedanta Limited. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium. BALCO operates a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfills its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.