Sustainability Report

Our approach to sustainable development

Sustainable development a key part of our strategy and overall ethos. It reflects in the way we operate and represents a core commitment of our management and employees.

We believe that Sustainability is a dynamic process and is not about finding the ideal status. Consequently, we are continuously innovating on our environmental and social performances.

We started our sustainability journey with a focus on ensuring compliance and improving our social, safety & health and environmental performance, with emphasis on establishing robust management systems. The process deployed helps us in enhancing focus and gives direction to drive our sustainability agenda.

During 2008, we continued our efforts to ingrain and deliver on Vedanta’s sustainability strategy, managing and addressing non financial considerations, material and integral to our business and important to our key stakeholders.

Our sustainable development strategy the “Vedanta Way” is all encompassing. It comprises of the following elements:

Nurturing People

People are our key assets. We are committed to build a flexible, flat and learning organization with an engaged and high performing work force. We believe in nurturing and mentoring leaders from within and providing opportunities for growth based on meritocracy, performance and integrity

Empowering Communities

Communities are integral to our business. We are committed to enhancing the quality of life of the communities near our operations and creating self sustaining communities. We work to gain and nurture our social license to operate in the host communities

Health and Safety

We are committed to providing a safe, secure and healthy workplace for all employees by using the best technology and practices

Environmental Stewardship

Respect for nature, enhanced resource conservation and use of environmental friendly technology are embodied in our working

Governance for Sustainability

We have a well defined sustainability framework that comprises of governance structures and policies.

Our Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) processes are overseen by a Board appointed committee, chaired by Mr Naresh Chandra, an Independent Director that meets quarterly. The other members of the HSE Committee are:

• Mr MS Mehta (CEO, Vedanta Resources)
• Mr Akhilesh Joshi (COO, HZL)
• Mr Gunjan Gupta (CEO, BALCO)
• Mr Jeya Kumar Janakraj (Director Operations, KCM)
• Mr Pankaj Khanna (Executive Director, VAL, Jharsuguda)
• Dr. Mukesh Kumar (COO, VAL, Lanjigarh)
• Mr Ramesh Nair (COO, Sterlite Copper)
• Mr Mahesh Patil (General Manger HSE, Sesa Goa)
• Mr CSR Mehta (HSE Coordinator)
• Ms Ruby Thapar (CSR Coordinator)

The committee has its own well defined terms of reference and reports directly to the board. The committee guides our sustainable development endeavour, sets annual targets and monitors progress in line with our HSE and social policies with a clear focus on integrating HSE aspects in the decision making process. All our locations are certified for ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, except CMT.