The Indian Aluminium Company, Ltd. (INDAL) has chosen DNV to validate its CDM project. Projected emission reductions are equivalent to 285,000 tonnes carbon dioxide.

The Clean Development Mechanism project aims to reduce the PFC (perfluorinated carbon compounds) emissions from INDAL’s Hirakud Smelter Plant through technology upgrades and modernisation of the its smelter pots. The upgrade cost will be in the area of USD 4.5 million. Project reductions are equivalent to 285,000 tonnes CO₂.

Importance of reducing PFC emissions
Production of primary aluminium by the Hall-Heroult process periodically produces small amounts of PFCs, such as tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) and hexafluoromethane (C₂F₆).

PFCs are greenhouse gases with an atmospheric lifetime of over 1000 years. Certain PFCs stay in the atmosphere for more than 50,000 years before they are broken down. Comparatively, the lifetime of methane is 12 years and nitrous oxide 114 years. Even if the concentration of PFCs in the atmosphere is small compared to other greenhouse gases, reducing emissions of theses greenhouse gases is crucial.

An environmental approach
INDAL is a member of the Aditya Birla Group, one of India’s largest business houses. As the first company in Asia, INDAL received certification of its environmental management system to ISO 14001 at its bauxite mines and power plant. Today all its plants and mines have their environmental management systems certified to the ISO 14001 standard by DNV.