Vedanta Accelerates Odisha Expansion with 3 MTPA Smelter, Plans Major Hospital in Kalahandi

Vedanta Group is set to scale up its industrial presence in Odisha, with chairman Anil Agarwal announcing plans for major investments in aluminium, power and refining.
The company is preparing to establish a 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) aluminium smelter in Dhenkanal district, Agarwal said on Saturday. According to him, land for the project has already been secured and construction is expected to start soon.
The proposed facility is planned alongside a 4,900 MW captive power plant, with the overall investment estimated at around Rs 1.28 lakh crore. The project is expected to create nearly 30,000 employment opportunities in Odisha.

Agarwal also announced plans for a major hospital in Kalahandi, where Vedanta has already established a large aluminium operation. He said the proposed healthcare facility would add to the company’s presence in the district.
The Vedanta chairman further said the group is exploring an expansion of its aluminium production capacity to 2 million tonnes. He added that the Odisha government has assured support in providing infrastructure and other facilities required for the company’s expansion plans.
According to Agarwal, generating employment remains a key priority for Vedanta, and industrial growth will be important for creating more job opportunities for people in the state.
He also said Vedanta had previously considered setting up a university in Odisha, although the proposal could not take shape at that time. The company may revisit the plan in the future, he added.

Discussing India’s economic growth, Agarwal said the country was becoming increasingly self-reliant and reducing its dependence on imports. He credited both policy changes and evolving public attitudes for the shift.
At the same time, he highlighted India’s continued dependence on imported bauxite despite its domestic resource base, arguing that greater industrial development could help utilise available resources more effectively and generate employment.
Agarwal also observed that resistance to Vedanta’s projects in Odisha has declined significantly compared with the situation nearly two decades ago.