Balconagar; April 25, 2025: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s leading aluminium producer and a part of Vedanta Aluminium, observed National Fire Service Week with an awareness campaign under the theme ‘Unite to Ignite – A Fire Safe India’. The campaign focused on enhancing fire safety awareness, emergency responsiveness, and proactive incidents mitigation across BALCO’s operations and surrounding communities, engaging over 1,500 participants including employees, school students, and community members.
The week-long observance sensitized people with a series of engaging competitions including quizzes, drawing, and slogan competitions, emphasizing the importance of fire safety. Furthermore, BALCO also conducted comprehensive safety training sessions, including fire safety demonstrations and Nukkad Natak (street play) to cultivate a safety-first mindset among diverse stakeholders.
The campaign concluded with the felicitation of individuals and teams within BALCO for their exemplary contributions towards enhancing fire safety measures within the plant premises. The week-long observance also witnessed participation of neighbouring industries in Korba, including representatives from NTPC Limited (formerly National Thermal Power Corporation) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), reflecting a collaborative approach towards safety in the region.
Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director of BALCO, emphasizing the importance of safety preparedness, stated, “Fire safety is a critical component of our operational resilience. At BALCO, we continue to invest in building awareness, skills, and infrastructure that collectively drive our ‘Zero Harm’ vision. Our approach focuses on preparedness, accountability, and a unified response system that ensures the well-being of our people and the sustainability of our operations.”
Mr. Paigambar Singh, Manager – Operations from IOCL said, “BALCO’s commitment towards strengthening emergency preparedness and rapid response capabilities is truly commendable. Their continuous investment in training, infrastructural augmentations, and collaboration has significantly enhanced the region’s readiness for managing fire-related emergencies.”
BALCO’s Fire and Safety team remains dedicated to protecting life and assets through timely action and continuous training. During the last financial year, the team:
• Responded to over 290 emergency situations.
• Conducted fire safety training for over 5,000 individuals, with a focus on fire extinguisher usage, CPR practices, and emergency management techniques.
• Executed more than 70 mock drills within plant and peripheral areas, ensuring readiness for potential fire-related incidents.
• Enhanced fire safety infrastructure by installing sprinkler systems in BALCO Hospital and deploying advanced fire alarms across operational zones for quick incident response.
Additionally, recognising its consistent commitment, BALCO’s Fire Department was conferred with the Platinum Award in the Metal & Power Division by Grow Care India Foundation, acknowledging its excellence in fire safety and emergency response preparedness.
