Hindalco Industries Limited’s Mahan Aluminium unit in Madhya Pradesh has received certification under the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard V3.1 (2023) with Provisional status. The certification covers the manufacture of primary aluminium products, including ingots, sow ingots, billets and wire rods, along with its 900 MW thermal captive power plant and 6.25 MW solar plant.
The facility operates an aluminium smelter with an annual production capacity of 398,000 tonnes, supported by casthouse and anode manufacturing operations. Its certification scope also includes the captive thermal power and solar power facilities.
ASI’s Performance Standard is a voluntary sustainability framework for the aluminium value chain. Version 3.1 sets out 11 principles and 62 criteria covering environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects, including biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, circularity and greenhouse gas emissions. The standard was developed through a multi-stakeholder consultation process, with the latest version following updates to the standards introduced in 2023.
The Provisional Certification provides companies with a framework to begin implementing ASI’s sustainability requirements and improve their practices over a defined period, with a commitment to progress towards full certification.
The independent third-party audit of Mahan Aluminium was conducted by CETIZION Verifica. It identified 11 minor non-conformances across areas including legal compliance, environmental and social management systems, stakeholder grievances, greenhouse gas emissions disclosure and reduction planning, biodiversity management, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, forced labour and remuneration.
The audit also identified one major non-conformance under Criterion 5.2b, relating to aluminium smelter greenhouse gas emissions intensity for production up to and including 2020. This resulted in the certification being granted with Provisional status for a period of one year. Mahan Aluminium will implement corrective actions, which will be verified through a follow-up audit. CETIZION Verifica approved the corrective action plan for the major non-conformance before the audit report was submitted to ASI.
