Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Mining Giant Vedanta Plans To Invest £1.60 Billion In India’s Odisha State

Mining giant, Vedanta Resources announced on Monday (12) that it plans to pump Rs 150 billion (£1.60bn) to increase the alumina refinery capacity at Lanjigarh in eastern Indian state Odisha.

With the new investment, the company aims to raise its capacity threefold to six million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and firm up the downstream sector in the state in three years.


Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal while addressing at the ‘Make in Odisha Conclave 2018’ being held at Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha said, the Lanjigarh plant would be expanded in phases which would raise the capacity of the refinery from the existing two MTPA to four MPTA, and finally six MTPA in the next three years.

Agarwal speaking in the conclave added that his company has already invested more than Rs 500bn in Odisha. A fresh investment of Rs 150bn will be made available for the expansion of the Lanjigarh refinery in the next three years.

Vedanta’s aluminium park at Jharsuguda where its smelter is established, has been witnessing progress and as many as 25 downstream industries have come up and more than 100 such factories are expected to be established in the 250-acre complex.

Agarwal also expressed his concern over scare supply of raw materials, such as coal, bauxite in Odisha which could adversely impact the growth of the industry.

The government firms in Odisha obtain 100 per cent coal for their functioning, whereas private companies are provided only 25 per cent which prevents the companies to function properly, he said.

Speaking on bauxite, Vedanta chairman said only one per cent of mineral’s reserves in the state have been explored so far. As far as the industrial growth of Odisha is concerned, it is more important to open new bauxite blocks to strengthen the aluminium sector in the state

Agarwal further said that his company has been given a tiny bauxite mine at Kodingamali and like oil blocks, more of the mines should be put to auction for the growth of aluminium industry.

He claimed that over 14 lakh people of Kalahandi district have benefited by his company’s alumina refinery at Lanjigarh.

More For You

Apple India Reroutes 97% of iPhones to US Amid Tariff Push

Apple iPhones are seen inside India's first Apple retail store in Mumbai, India, April 17, 2023.

REUTERS

Foxconn sends 97 per cent of India iPhone exports to US amid tariff push

NEARLY all iPhones exported by Foxconn from India between March and May were shipped to the United States, according to customs data reviewed by Reuters.

The data showed that 97 per cent of Foxconn’s iPhone exports during this period went to the US, significantly higher than the 2024 average of 50.3 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Weaker labour market data sparks debate on rate cuts

The Bank of England is weighing inflation signals ahead of rate call

Weaker labour market data sparks debate on rate cuts

PAY growth in Britain slowed sharply and unemployment rose to its highest level in nearly four years in the three months to April, official figures showed on Tuesday (10), potentially reducing the Bank of England’s (BoE) caution over further interest rate cuts.

Wage growth excluding bonuses slowed to 5.2 per cent, the weakest pace since the three months to September, and fell more than expected from 5.5 per cent in January to March this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
London Tech Week: Indian firms show investment intent

Keir Starmer at London Tech Week in London on Monday (9)

London Tech Week: Indian firms show investment intent

MORE THAN 350 technology companies from India joined London Tech Week, which began on Monday – making it the largest-ever delegation from the country to attend the event.

London mayor Sadiq Khan’s office, City Hall, described the rise in Indian participation as a reflection of deepening ties between India and London’s tech sectors, following the recent signing of the India– UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Keep ReadingShow less
London Tech Week

The discussion around inclusivity and parenthood is likely to remain in the spotlight.

Getty Images

London Tech Week: Woman entrepreneur says she was humiliated after being denied entry for bringing baby

A female entrepreneur has said she felt “absolutely humiliated” after being denied entry to London Tech Week because she was accompanied by her 18-month-old daughter.

Davina Schonle, founder and chief executive of AI start-up Humanvantage AI, had travelled from her home to attend the event at Olympia on Monday, 10 June. She said she had made a three-hour journey to London with her daughter, Isabella, only to be turned away on arrival because children were not allowed into the venue.

Keep ReadingShow less
Smartless Mobile launched by podcast trio

The move marks the first commercial spin-off from the Smartless podcast

Getty Images

Smartless podcast trio launches Smartless Mobile as low-cost phone service

The hosts of the popular Smartless podcast, actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, have launched a new mobile phone service in the United States. Called Smartless Mobile, the service offers a budget-friendly alternative to traditional phone plans and is aimed at users who spend most of their time connected to WiFi.

The move marks the first commercial spin-off from the Smartless podcast, which is known for its celebrity interviews and humorous tone. The new venture was announced in early June 2025 and has already begun accepting sign-ups across the US mainland and Puerto Rico.

Keep ReadingShow less