Vedanta Aluminium has appointed David Stone as the Chief Executive Officer – Coal Mines. In this pivotal role, David will oversee the company’s coal mining operations, focusing on strategic development and the integration of cutting-edge technology to enhance resource efficiency.
David Stone’s extensive experience will play a crucial role in optimizing resource efficiency at Vedanta Aluminium’s thermal power plants located in Jharsuguda and Lanjigarh in Odisha, as well as in Korba, Chhattisgarh. The company currently operates five coal mines—Jamkhani, Kuraloi, Radhikapur, Ghogharpalli, and Barra, the latter of which is under exploration—with a combined capacity of approximately 40 million ton per annum (MTPA).
With over 30 years of global experience in the resource sector, David has held leadership positions in companies like Anglo American, Xstrata, and Glencore. His expertise spans across growth phases, mergers and acquisitions, project development, and the seamless management of operations. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a transformative ability to create shareholder value.
Expressing enthusiasm about the appointment, John Slaven, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome David to Vedanta Aluminium. His proven track record makes him the ideal leader to drive our mining operations, ensuring backward integration to secure raw material and reduce cost of production for our business. His expertise will be invaluable as we enhance our resource efficiency while keeping an eye on ambitious growth plans.”
Commenting on his new role, David Stone said, “I am honoured to join Vedanta Aluminium and lead the coal operations at such a pivotal time when the company is expanding production capacity and is on an ambitious growth path. I look forward to working with the talented team to implement innovative strategies that will optimize our resources, reduce costs, and contribute to the company’s growth and sustainability objectives.”
As part of its expansion and cost reduction strategy, Vedanta Aluminium has outlined a comprehensive plan for backward integration, emphasizing the importance of a robust coal supply chain. The company’s new coal mines are expected to significantly lower the cost of power generation for its thermal power assets.